Emergency Petition for Treatment

RetaMeta55

I want to thank all the people in my life who calls and checks on me and my LO as we go through this dementia journey. It’s been a tough 3 months since his broken neck, rehab, home therapy, and then now in a geriatric psych stay. Applying for an emergency petition for treatment through the courts was the hardest decision I ever had to make. I was diagnosed with PTSD, I had to take care of myself. Through his verbal abuse, physical abuse, infidelity delusions anger and paranoia, I was encouraged by professionals to go through this route. Has anyone had to do this? I feel sad and guilty.

terei

Yes, many people have had to do this. Unfortunately, as you see, some people wait far too long to use the system to the advantage of their LO + themselves. Having PWD be evaluated and possibly medicated is not some kind of failure on the caretaker’s part….it is good sense to preserve the physical and mental health of all the parties involved.

NOTE to other caregivers. If you are suffering from your LO’s behaviors please take steps (ER and then to geri psych for evaluation) to try to de stress your situation. There is help out there.

CampCarol

I did not have to petition the courts, my POA was enough to get him admitted to an inpatient Geri Psych facility. He has been there the past 3+ weeks, and it's killing me. He went from simple confusion to rehab psychosis to violent, paranoid and delusional in a very short period of time. They still have not been able to stabilize him fully, but he's on at least 5 new meds, and I'm finally starting to see a tiny bit of improvement. He will be there at least another week. His sister is screaming at me to get him out of there and telling me what a bad caregiver I am, but I'm being told it's no longer safe for him to come home. Guilty doesn't even begin to describe how I feel. I need to see the light at the end of the tunnel where he will be (hopefully) settled somewhere safe and quiet. I feel your anguish, hang in there!

midge333

@CampCarol : I am sorry your sister in law is treating you so poorly. Hopefully the hospital can get your DH's meds adjusted to he can come home or get placed into memory care.