My 87-year-old mom lives alone and his suffering from early stages of dementia. Prior to this she also suffered from schizophrenia as well. She has lost most of her mobility and refuses any help. She currently urinates and defecates in a bucket near her bed. Her apartment is over-ran with vermin. My brother is more than willing to take her in, but she refuses. What can we do?
I'd contact the doctor first to see if he or she can expedite some type of action. If that isn't possible, call protective services. As you and your brother so wisely see, this can't be allowed to go on.
Best wishes to you. I hope that you'll keep in contact for support.
Carol
Senior Services may help, There is also a Senior Ombudsman that may step in. If you have none of these resources a call to the Health Department or Police Department might get some help or at least get the ball rolling for some help.
If she has a Doctor that she goes to that might be your first call they might be able to help a bit faster by getting a Social Worker involved sooner.
Call 911 for an ambulance. Tell the dispatcher that you came into your mother's home and she cannot move, that she has to be taken to the emergency room. An ambulance will take her to an emergency room, they will do some tests and probably place her on an "observation" status and discharge her to a rehab facility. The rehab facility cannot discharge her home if she lives alone & cannot take care of herself, so she will most likely be admitted to the long term care part of the facility---which is what she needs, apparently. OR, she can agree to go live with your brother, which would have to be documented in the rehab/LTC notes. Also, if the apartment is that bad, it will be noted on the ambulance documents which is further support for her not to return to that place alone.
Furthermore, during the time she is in the hospital/rehab/LTC facility, get in touch with her landlord & let him/her know the situation & what's been going on. I am sure the landlord wouldn't be very happy with one of the apartments being over run with vermin. He might tell your mother that she cannot come back, forcing her to go live with your brother. Aside from the health issues, it is not safe for her to be living by herself, eliminating in a bucket surrounded by vermin.
See All Answers