Mother getting dementia

[SuzieMayI]

What is the name of your state? Michigan

Asking for a friend, LOL. No really.

Anyhow. His 92 year old mother has dementia or Alzheimers. She was an independent and secretive person. OK, a difficult person. But she is his mother and he is concerned for her health. She hasn't been making good decisions for some time.

But now she's declined dramatically. She was taken to a hospital because she wasn't talking right. It was a short stay and then transferred to a nursing home. She begged a friend and her granddaughter to take her home. But the night before they came to take her home, she fell and broke her hip.

Then was transferred to another hospital, got hip repair surgery on Monday, then went home on Friday, 4 days after the surgery. Her son did not want her to go home so soon. He wanted her to get some rehab therapy. She couldn't even stand when she was released. But she wanted to go home, and the Dr's said OK. He couldn't stop it because he wasn't her guardian.

In all 3 settings, she was confused and hallucinating.

My question is, if she is uncooperative, and won't sign a release for medical records, how can he establish that she does have dementia?

 

[LdiJ]

What is the name of your state? Michigan

Asking for a friend, LOL. No really.

Anyhow. His 92 year old mother has dementia or Alzheimers. She was an independent and secretive person. OK, a difficult person. But she is his mother and he is concerned for her health. She hasn't been making good decisions for some time.

But now she's declined dramatically. She was taken to a hospital because she wasn't talking right. It was a short stay and then transferred to a nursing home. She begged a friend and her granddaughter to take her home. But the night before they came to take her home, she fell and broke her hip.

Then was transferred to another hospital, got hip repair surgery on Monday, then went home on Friday, 4 days after the surgery. Her son did not want her to go home so soon. He wanted her to get some rehab therapy. She couldn't even stand when she was released. But she wanted to go home, and the Dr's said OK. He couldn't stop it because he wasn't her guardian.

In all 3 settings, she was confused and hallucinating.

My question is, if she is uncooperative, and won't sign a release for medical records, how can he establish that she does have dementia?

He can file in court to establish guardianship over her. She will have to be present in court. Generally if someone has dementia its noticeable in court. It would probably be best to have an attorney who will understand what questions to ask her to show her dementia. Its also possible that with dementia she simply won't show up for court, and that could get him a default ruling.

Its tough for seniors who are used to being independent to give up their independency. Many of them know that they are slipping, but do not want to admit it.

 

[SuzieMayI]

She goes in and out of the confusion, etc. We are afraid she might show up in court having a better day.

Yes, she doesn't want to lose independence. But going home so soon after the surgery seemed really foolhardy.

 

[FlyingRon]

You need an attorney. This is not a DIY project. Generally, the courts are ILL-DISPOSED to take away decision making from patients who present themselves as even moderately understanding of their situation. People are generally free, when competent, to make decisions refusing treatment. Ldij is right here.