My brother is severely "mentally challenged"?

Question

He has been in "State Schools" almost all of his life.  Our parents are dead, and my sister and I have our brother every other weekend.  I am feeling a lot of guilt over him having to live away from 'home".  He lives to be 'home'.  We have him home for a weekend, and then he waits for two weeks to get to go home again.  I'm having  HUGE problem today.  I'm on a guilt trip.  He's such a beautiful person.

How do those of you who deal with this same problem cope?  I feel extremely selfish for making him live in a group home.  He wants to be here with me, and I feel that I could make it work if I really put my mind to it.  I haven't even had a chance to talk to my wife about it yet.

I just feel that we have failed our brother.  We have homes, but we continue to take him to 'that other place'.  

Have any of you dealt with this same problem, and what are your thoughts?

Please...no smart-assed answers, as this is really giving me a problem today.

♥ yahoos little helper♥ · Accepted Answer

ur a really sweet man

talk to his group ''home''

maybe they can arrange a new schedule

maybe they can send one of their workers to be an aide for ur brother

maybe they can work out a flexible time 2 shorten how long he spends there while still recieveing his care

i'm sorry to hear this

there are many things that they can do depending on ur brothers mental need

i'm sorry i couldn't be more of a help

rapturefuture · Answer

We are all in need of a balanced life !! You know or should be aware of the emotional limits of your family !!! If you should take the challenge you have to set the rules early on !!! Look for a sheltered workshop [a place where mentally challenged go and work] that he could be at 4 to 6 hours a day !!!
That should take the pressure off for some of the day !!! And find usefull endevours to d around the house or yard !!! So my advise is be careful how far you will go but keeping our balance !!!

luvya&lt;3 · Answer

i feel pretty sorry for you acctually.if your thinkning about him liveing with you you and your wife have to be compeltly dedecated to takeing care of him. other wise, the group home could be the best option. id talk to my wife first if i were you.

Annette · Answer

don't these things happen just continue to do what you can for him (maybe your not equiped to have him in your home and that's fine) just continue to see him as often as you can

My brother is severely "mentally challenged"?

4 Answers