Brother in Limbo in hospital

Lola Angell

My younger brother, age 80 was involuntarily committed to the mental health lock up in a local hospital with dementia.  He has been there for 41 days as of today with no visitors allowed....no family, no friends.  He is awaiting the completion of a Conservatorship over his affairs.

I can't seem to contact anyone who could help get him transferred to a nursing home where visitors would be allowed.  It seems cruel.

My heart is broken because I can only talk to him on the phone and he can't understand why he can't go home.  A granddaughter is working on being named his conservator.

dayn2nite2

If there is a conservatorship in progress it’s likely he will not be moved until a conservator is named by the court.

harshedbuzz

Lola A-

It sounds as if he was transferred to a secure geriatric psych or general psych unit. These sorts of draconian visiting rules are common in such places even outside of COVID-times. Sometimes they will allow one next-of-kin type visitor once or twice a week once the patient is stable. This kind of hospitalization isn't one where they want a lot of friends or family dropping by. 

What led to his placement? It can be hard to get into such a place so I would surmise that he was in a situation that was risky to himself or others. Coming from such a placement, many SNF would pass on offering him a bed so they may be having trouble finding a placement. That a grandchild is stepping up, as opposed to a spouse or adult child, might mean this takes a bit longer. I know when my aunt gained guardianship of her sister, the courts reached out to her other surviving sibs for input. 

Forty-one days is a little on the longer side, but perhaps it's best the conservatorship is set up before he's released. Or perhaps their attempts at medication without undue sedation have taken longer than some. 

HB

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