Hello everyone. Just joined up as I'm feeling in need of some support. Mum mum is 84 and is disabled with COPD and heart problems and lives 350 miles away, and I'm finding it a struggle trying to support her from so far away. She has carers in four times a day to help her, and is housebound but very emotionally dependant on me. Both myself and my sibling (who lives a similar distance away from her) get up to see her as often as we can- one of us goes to see her every 4-6 weeks. But it's so difficult trying to get things sorted from such a distance. She has a social worker now and she is giving a lot of practical help, which is great. But almost every evening mum rings me, she's getting quite depressed but doesn't want any counselling type help, so relies on me for most of her emotional support. She's a very negative old lady, critical of everyone and everything and rarely has anything positive to say about anyone and I'm finding it a struggle as her future is a slow spiral into increasing ill health. Last night she told me she didn't want to live any longer, I've emailed her social worker to see if she can get mum to accept some support with her emotional health. Is anyone else on this forum in a similar position, trying to support someone from a distance?

We do have some members caring from a distance and I'm sure some of them will along soon to welcome you and give advice

If your Mum was physically active and could get out and about before she became ill then her depression at being housebound is understandable - no easier to deal with, but understandable. Perhaps with the help of Mum's Social Worker you could find a local 'befriending' service and arrange for someone to visit Mum in a 'social' capacity once or twice a week?