My dad who is 85 years old. Has been diagnosed with vulascular dementia. He's been in and out of hospitals for the past 6 months. He is a danger to himself.a nd needs assisted living. Hospital keeps releasing him. I had to appeal this. He is on Medicare. He won't give me POA. He can't stay with me as I am never home due to work. Neighbors can't watch him. Yesterday he was found on the ground in his house naked. Neighbor clothed him and put him on wheelchair and fed him. I am at my wits end. Case workers have not been helpful. They have threatened me with elderly abondonmemt meant which I am not doing. I do not have a place for him to stay.
You have a half whit social worker that is trying to make you responsible for a person and situation you are not. Don't be bullied into accepting responsibility or you are responsible and everything changes. Right now, based on what you posted, you are not responsible and dad needs some social services intervention.
Stay strong or they will bamboozle you into actually having responsibility.
Thank you all!
Freedom of a person to leave hospital, go home, live as they please VS a hospital's duty of care to ensure a safe discharge.
It is a hard situation: No-body wants their rights to live as they wish stripped away - yet it can becomes a safety issue.
When to step in? How to step in? Who can legally step in?
Vascular Dementia can fluctuate I believe & many with a good vocab can sound reasonable in a short consult.
As a Advocate for your Father, you can speak up clearly to ALL the relevant staff - the Nurse Manager, Doctor, Hospital Social Worker. State that Dad is HOME ALONE.
If he is to be discharged again, make your position clear.
Talk to the Medicos yourself.
Many times a patient can say My family are helping.. my son/daughter/sister etc can help, visits alot, I have good neighbours & friends to help me.
I have had to do this.
I don't agree therefore I will not assist. I will not drive home. I will not be there for arrival home by taxi. I will not be offering daily assistance.
There is no way for you to get POA, that ship has sailed with dad's mental capacity. He would need to assign you POA, and he obviously can no longer do that.
The beginning of change is scary but, he will be okay with a guardian and you can be his son and friend. Let the hospital or whomever applies for guardianship that you want to be able to speak with dad, visit when possible and get updates. They will do this for both of you.
He can't stay with me because I am not home and work. He can't stay at home.
He won't give me POA. I am at a loss.
Suggestions,?
Speak with the attorney about how to put a full stop to this nonsense.
Like I said, you have a half whit social worker at the hospital trying to make you responsible for your dad, so she/he doesn't have to do her job. Tell them under no ambiguous words that you are NOT able to safely care for your dad, period! End of discussion. Say this until they get it.
You are not responsible for your Dad!
No, it is a full sentence AND it doesn't require an explanation.