My sister called from a nursing home where she was placed due to seemingly losing her mind. As it turns out, this was due to a medication she has been on for 12 years, lorazepam.
She wanted to go home, but her children said no, she could not and if she did, they would no longer help her.
I took her into my home to help her get the medical care she needed. Now, almost 2 months later, she is off the medication, her mind is clear, and she wants to go back to her apartment and live on her own.
Her doctor and psychiatrist both have cleared her to do so, but her children are telling her that I am responsible for anything that happens to her in the future when she is living on her own.
I am not her POA nor guardian. My question is, CAN I be held liable or responsible for her if something happens since I took her from the nursing home?
That said - frankly, I think you took a huge chance taking her out of a facility on the hopes that tweaking/stopping her meds would make everything "all better". Especially since her children clearly stated they would not help her any longer., should she choose to leave the facility. What would you have done if she hadn't gotten any better? Were you ready to take on her care in your home for the foreseeable future? You're very, very lucky it worked out the way it did, because usually people who have anxiety issues to the point where they need medication don't just "get better" by stopping the meds. Have you heard that she's cleared from the doctors yourself, or is she just telling you what the doctors said? And if that's the case, are you sure you can believe her?
As so many people here have found out, children don't have the "right" to place parents into a nursing home against their wishes, especially if the person hasn't been deemed incompetent by the court. As to whether or not they can hold you responsible should something happen - and by this, I assume they mean they will sue - well, people in this country can sue anyone for any reason. If they can win any sort of money from it is the question, and I would doubt it. If sis has it in her mind to move out and be on her own, that is her choice, and she will be responsible to deal with the consequences, unless you petitioned to be her guardian and it was granted.
My doctors told a different story, and yes, I was with her at all doctors appointments since she has been in my home. Had it gone wrong, my doctors would have cared for her. They knew about the issue before they saw her the first time and were in fact, in contact with the care center she came from, plus, we have 5 such centers within 30 miles of me, so yes, I would have taken care of her in my home or one of these. Its what my family does for each other, but her children don't want the hassle
We now have her off the medicine. A pharmacy will deliver her pills to her monthly in pill packs by the morning and night, so she doesn't have to set up her meds. The grocery store will deliver her groceries, and she has a free ride to doctors appointments where she will go once she gets home, different from her prior doctors, plus they will provide a female escort to accompany her to the visits.
She also has free rides to the grocery store should she want to go, and someone to clean her apartment weekly.
I believe everything she could want, besides her children to love her again, has been provided.
Now I will say, you are not responsible for your sister, and what might happen to her if she goes to live on her own. Like you said, you are not her POA or guardian(although I hope she has someone designated as such for the future)and so if she wants to try living on her own, and her Dr. and psychiatrist are behind it, then I say more power to her. Let her go live her life as she sees fit. She deserves that much after what she's been through and the years that she lost because of the medication.
Her children are just trying to guilt you into something that is not your responsibility, as they obviously don't want to deal with her. It's always sad when you get to see family members true colors, when push comes to shove. I wish you the best.