Is it my duty to take care of my mother?

 If she has been a reasonable person all her life, you owe her some assistance. This does not mean taking care for her yourself, letting her live with you, paying for it etc.

It could be as simple as doing a little research for her and making some calls - relatively easy with the internet. Look up local services she may qualify for. Facilities. Supports. If she’s a member of a faith community, see if they offer any volunteer services (ie like drives to appointments or a pickup for an activity).

When my MIL got Alzheimer’s, and was still relatively functional, I was amazed what she qualified for at no or a nominal cost to her. She had a visiting social worker, a nurse, physiotherapist (she’d broken a hip) but best of all was a housekeeper 5 half days a week. That was brilliant. The housekeeper made her breakfast, made sure she bathed a few times a week, made and left a lunch, cleaned up her little apartment, did the laundry, and took her shopping. We had Meals on Wheels bring her dinner 7 days a week. We arranged for a tab with a cab company for MIL when she could no longer drive.

With all of this, and family support we were able to keep her home for almost 2 years. I had done all the research about care facilities, and put her name on waiting lists for not for profit assisted living, so we were ready when she needed it.

No.

If she did right by you then it might morally be argued that you need to ensure she is cared for by someone, but that someone doesn’t have to be you.

If she didn’t do right by you then it’s up to you. Some people are content to know that their parent is sorry, or that it was a mistake, or that they did the best they could. Others are not. Your particular circumstances will dictate whether you feel content or obliged to help her.

No, it’s not your duty to care for your mother. I’m on a FB page for caring parents and there are many that one sibling cares for the parents, or just mom or dad and the other siblings don’t. Yet when parents die, the first to get a portion of the money mentioned in the Will are those children that never helped out.

You are not obligated to take care of her, but you should ask yourself why you don’t want to! Did you have a poor relationship growing up-was she abusive or neglectful? If not, I probably wouldn’t describe you as a caring person! Ask yourself why? !

My mom and I had a live hate relationship. I don’t have a lot of Patience. When she got demintia there is no way I could take care of her. I felt guilt putting her in a facility. I visited her. Just don’t put her in a place and not visit her. I’ve heard so many stories about taking parents in. It’s a life changing experience. My mom stayed at a small senior apartment. They charged you by home much money she made. My mom liked it

In India: Mother is GOD or super GOD. She is above GOD. Agreed, this has changed in this materialistic word. yet 90% of Indians consider mother as GOD.

next: BY law: son / daughter must TAKE CARE of parents. It is by law in India. Also by all their ancient Vedas ( holy scriptures pertaining to 4000 BC ): HINDUs must take care of their parents.

The fifth commandment of the Mosaic law is “Honor thy father and thy mother.”

This doesn’t necessarily mean taking care of your mother yourself, but it does mean seeing to it that she is cared for.

Yes. Morally you should help even if you need not do legally. When she is not in her capacity to look after herself, if not you atleast you can engage a care taker or enrol her in assisted living so she will be fine.