Safety/Health Home Assessment

bozowing

Has anyone had luck requesting an city, county or state authority to perform a safety/health assessment on the home your loved one lives in?

Not only is my father in his middle stages and confusion and anger are daily basis, I'm really concerned if he should be allowed to live in his 1961 home.  

Keep in mind he's is super stubborn and verbally abusive every time I try suggest or help.

Cynbar

Yes, Adult Protective Services will do this. If they find problems, they will open the case and try to help your dad make necessary improvements. In an extreme case, they might arrange for him to live elsewhere, either short term or permanently, but their first focus will be on fixing the problems. Google APS in his area or call his local senior center/Council on Aging for the number. APS doesn't need to be a scary option, they help a lot of seniors arrange a better living situation.

bozowing

Thank you Cynbar, called and left message at county office.  But knowing this county not holding my breath I'll even get a call back.

Rescue mom

In addition to calling your local council on aging or senior services (different places have different names) as Cynbar said, you could also call your local Alzheimer’s Association and ask who the best office or agency is to call, and call the specific agency directly. It may all be the same, but no harm in a double check.

If you are asking about the home itself (what I first  thought when reading) , and how safe or well it functions for him, or if changes/repairs are needed, there are often several groups that can do that kind of building assessment. The senior council and AA can also help find those in your area.

Iris L.

Many family members are confronted with this same challenge.  It seems that you have made your own assessment and are relying on an outside agency to convince or force your father into making changes or accepting help.  In many cases, if APS decides there is a need for care, they will contact the family, which is you.  

There are many threads on how to get care for the reluctant PWD (person with dementia).  Seventy percent of PWDs have anosognosia and are not only unaware of having diminished capacity, they resist efforts to show them reality.  This is why the family has to learn work-arounds.  You will learn many work-arounds from the members.  

You may feel it is not your place to step in or to impose.  It is an uncomfortable position to be in.  But many handle this challenge.  Best wishes to you.

Iris L.

King Boo

No.  Unless there is imminent danger (like a very hoarded house) if there is an intact roof and food in the house, they generally don't just address cognitive decline.

Many of us hope this is a direct path to help, but the reality lies with us, the decision makers.

A neuropsychological evaluation with a PhD neuropsychologist and a consult with a Geriatric Psychiatrist MD can yield documentation that he needs proxy (someone else to represent his interests).

Then, you can move ahead and be legal decision maker.  Of course, the legal pathway must be set.  There is not need for most of the above if you have a DPOA, unless there is discord in the family.

You are going to have to be the one to decide he shouldn't live alone.  And figure out how to accomplish that.