MC sent my Mom to ER with a psych hold

I don't see any good options, either. Considering that you will most likely not be allowed to visit her, it might be better for her to be further away but in a facility that can treat her properly. The ER cannot do much of anything except give her meds, and change diapers as needed. They are not trained to deal with dementia or non-ADL adults.

I would be absolutely furious. That doesn’t sound right at all, but I guess there are a lot of things about the medical system that aren’t right. I am so sorry. I hope she gets the help she needs. 🙏

Hi. I just wanted to say that at her age you do need to be very very very careful with which medications she is on. Some of the psychiatric medications for aggression/agitation are significantly not good for people in their nineties, as in, can kill them.

My mom is the same age as yours. She hit me very briefly on the chin on August 1st. Not very hard and it didn't hurt. Hasn't happened again. The weird part is that she didn't even seem particularly angry, more like lost control. For me though this is a sign that she may be getting worse. On the other hand she was recovering from an infection (leg infection, second one in five years) at the time so it could be partly that too. She and my dad are both I believe out of Stage Three and into Stage Four but that's going by their behavior and what I saw online. They have had a very very very long Stage Three or what looks like it but they are still undiagnosed and still living at their home. They are able to do all their own daily living sorts of things. Cooking and cleaning are less than before but they are still doing some.

I haven't actually even told their doctor yet about the hitting incident and don't know if I ever will if it doesn't happen again. He does *not* actually know my parents very well and he might misinterpret something about the situation. I was not in any danger, no one was in any danger and she only did it once. Had that not been the case then that's a different story.

This is only the second time that I've ever posted about this. Tried Reddit r/dementia and it was not the appropriate place. People started getting too anxious about me. Tried Reddit r/AgingParents on another dementia topic and got told that if my parents are still able to take care of themselves then they don't have dementia and that I don't know anything about the topic (dementia). Seems it's either one thing or another with that place. Something's always wrong there, usually with my posts or supposedly so. Luckily that occasion it was at least only the one poster that had that one particular problem with my post.

Looking for a safe space where it's actually okay to post these kinds of things without getting all the unnecessary flack and negative attention.

Sorry to hear about what you and your mom are both going through. Hope that things do get better for you soon.

Do you have Medical power of attorney? If so, they should have notified you. Make sure a Geriatric Psychiatrist is treating your Mom. Her medications need to be adjusted so she can return to MC. A Geriatric Psychiatrist is the best type of doctor to manage those meds for dementia. So sorry you are going through this.

I'd read the MC contract and be sure you meet their rules to keep them holding her bed while she is being treated. Last thing you want is them filling her bed. Document your wishes in writing . Keep them in the loop.

ATL86, I know I am a little late to this post, but holy smokes! I am surprised at the measures the staff at the MC facility took then again the acts the hospital staff took without your prior approval or awareness. Then, once they do that, the patient automatically becomes a ward of the state? That just seems way to aggressive to me. It takes my breath away.

It makes me wonder if it was just that if a resident displays physical aggression it gives the MC staff the authority to make such an impactful decision as sending a vulnerable resident to ER with a psych hold? I guess there is some verbiage in the facility contract on that? Otherwise, it just seems like a huge over-reach to me. I do not think that was a benign action, and it set off a sequence of other actions that can leave a patient too vulnerable. Staff in ER is not trained how to deal with a patient with dementia. Their behaviors can worsen in a hospital setting and staff there just seem to take extreme measures that make it all worse. At least that is what I saw happen, but maybe your situation is different.

By now, you have visited your dear mother and it is likely worked out. It seems she has plans to return to her MC with potentially new meds. It was probably a very worrisome episode for you and I am so sorry. Sending you strength and courage as you move for\ward through this.