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What are the legal ramifications if something were to happen to a stroke patient who cannot walk/transfer on their own who wants to be alone in their home for a few hours everyday?
She has 24/7 care and family stopping in everyday, but wants a few hours of solitude in the afternoons. Can't blame her, but worried if there was a fire, break-in, etc. She is furious with family members who have told her we could be in legal trouble if something did happen. Anyone know the actual law on this? Or who I could contact to find out?

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When my husband was completely bedridden for the last 22 months of his life, and I was his 24/7 caregiver, I would of course on occasion run to the grocery store, or do other errands, and even go to lunch or supper with friends, as it was important for me to get out and about. But I had a security camera on our mantel(since his hospital bed was in our living room), along with one at our front and back doors, and I would check on him through my phone anytime I wanted to. I would highly recommend getting some inexpensive security cameras so you can at least keep an eye on her when no one is there. I have the Blink system, and my are the older models where you can only hear where the camera is, but they now make them two way talk, so you can not only hear, but can also talk to the person you're caring for.
I don't blame her for wanting some peace and quiet, with having people in all the time. She deserves that, and at least with the cameras, you can have some peace of mind as well.
You are doing nothing wrong with wanting to honor your moms wishes.
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It sounds as though they person is cognitively competent so I can't see any reason they can't be left alone, there are many people with varying degrees of disability who would be hard pressed to evacuate on their own in an emergency. There is lots of new tech available to keep an eye on things remotely, and one tried and true solution that gives her the control is a wearable alert button.
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Comparatively simple, this: does the lady have mental capacity? If she is of sound mind, able to understand risks and consequences, then she is the boss. If she says "everybody out" then out you go.

And - just musing here you understand, not making threats! - if the answer is yes, then in fact you could be in legal trouble if you continue to trespass on her privacy.
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I can see where she is coming from. I would be the same way. It can be stressful to have people around on a constant basis. Ask her if a camera would be OK for your peace of mind. Don't be surprised if she says No. Your not getting alone time with someone watching. Maybe something that she can contact you if she needs to.

We have a friend who cared for his MIL after his wife died. He owned a local business. He would get her up in the morning, get her breakfast and dressed. He would then sit her in her recliner with everything she may need while he was gone. Water, phone, the remote, snack etc. Then he would go to work. Coming back at lunch to feed her. Then off again. I am sure family members stopped by but it worked for them.
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funkygrandma59 Aug 2021
Just because you put a camera in her home, doesn't mean that you're watching it 24/7. It would only be there for her daughter to check in periodically when no one is there. It's peace of mind for mom, as she would know that God forbid something did happen, that her daughter would be checking in to see, and peace of mind for the daughter, as she could take comfort in the fact that her mom is enjoying some alone time, yet still safe.
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i would ask a legal aid if you can't afford a paid one. u can also ask a police office. u can get aarp security buttons or necklace that she could press. u know one of those medical alert buttons. Cell phone, get vivint cameras so u
can see and view while everyone is out. there are ways.
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This woman can choose to live alone if she wants to! We have posters here with mothers of sound mind who are 96, living in hoarded homes covered in filth, who call APS and APS refuses to do anything about the situation b/c the mother is of sound mind! Elders have rights but well-meaning family members don't want to understand that and instead try to force their help upon the elder.

What if this stroke patient had no family? What then? What if nobody came around to install cameras to watch her every movement 24/7? Then she'd live alone and that would be that.

As long as the woman is of sound mind, it's her right to stay alone in her own home if she so desires. Back off a bit and honor her wishes. If there is a fire or a break-in, and if she has a phone, she can call 911 herself if she is of sound mind. Being wheelchair bound does not make a person totally incapacitated and/or immobilized to the point where they're non functional!
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