What happens when a vulnerable elder report is sent?
Mom pushed first alert and the fire dept and paramedics came out. She said her phone isn't working, and said people are watching her from the smoke alarms and cable box! So they sent a vulnerable report! What does that mean?
My mom was reported when the Meals on Wheels person noticed on a Friday that her pill box for the entire week was still full, so she hadn't taken any of her meds all that week. The lady at the Council on Aging/Senior Center, where MoW is located, called me and told me this. They also contacted DHHS who also contacted me. DHHS was able to provide aides that came in the morning each day for a few months and they helped me with the Medicaid application process. Their funding for the aides ran out about when the Medicaid Waiver was approved, and then Medicaid picked up the cost of the aides and weekly nurse visits to fill her pill box. Thank goodness for the expansion of the Medicaid Waiver a few years ago. It pays for aides now 2x a day to help with chores, cooking, and making sure she takes her meds, as well as a Life Alert pendant, locked pill box, weekly nurse visits as well as incontinence supplies and pays for Meals on Wheels. Plus now she has dual Medicare/Medicaid coverage so she has no more co-pays for doctor/ER visits or medications, which could get quite pricey before.
Text book example! I'm so glad the system clicked into place so smoothly and hope your mother continues to do well at home.
Just wondering - had much planning gone into your mother's care beforehand? At what point had she accepted the Meals on Wheels service, for example, and was this her doing or yours? I suspect you might have tips to share about good preparation.
That means Adult Protective Services will start showing up at her home and they might ask that you get in home care for her, or might assess that she cannot be alone in her home. Start thinking about a plan for mom -- in home care, assisted living, etc.
It means that a case file will be opened with Adult Protective Services and Mom is now on their radar. If you are listed as her next of kin and/or POA, they will contact and interview you. It sounds like Mom has dementia and should not be living alone. Hopefully, APS will work with you to find a solution.
It means that the fire department and paramedics, both mandated reporters, did their job and alerted Adult Protective Services to a potential risk. What should happen now is that APS investigate the report and see what, if anything, needs to be done to protect your mother going forward.
So. If your mother has been living alone, it may be that she can't any longer. Or it may be that this happened because she has an acute infection that caused temporary confusion but can be easily put right. The important thing is to establish what happened and make sure she is getting the right support.
Are you in close touch with your mother and her support network?
Does First Alert immediately call 911 or is there a FA operator? If an operator than she should have accessed the situation. Meaning the fire dept and paramedics should not have been called. You should have been the first call. My Mom had Phillips and they weren't to call 911 until they spoke to me. But, I also lived around the corner.
This is a wake up call. You now have to realize Mom cannot be alone anymore.
Some companies let you set up the calling order to please the subscriber. My mother's was set up to call (in order), Me, Daughter, 911. My girlfriend's mother's was was set up to call 911, then her. This was because girlfriend lived in So. California and mother lived in Montana. This way, Alice knew when something was going on with her mother. I always had the operator call 911 then I called a neighbor who knew where the hid-a-way key was.
It's not uncommon or someone with dementia to have delusions, hallucinations or just get anxious and scared, due to the things happening in their brain. They may call 911 for help. I would expect APS to investigate to see if it's safe for her to live alone. They'll likely reach out to her family to find a solution. Not only is it a safety concern, but, it's mentally distressful for the person who is going though this. Hopefully, her doctor can help.
IMO, it's risky for someone who is having these things happen live alone. I know of someone who became frightened of children in his home, (this was a delusion) and he ran into the street, fell and got a fractured hip, that he was never able to recover from.
APS usually arrive within a day or so. If the elder is not home, they will generally leave a business card. Went through this recently when dad, with very early stage dementia but SEVERE OCD, asked questions at the management office of his senior residence (like to borrow glue for a broken ceramic statue), and he decided to go for a walk (they "thought" he was lost)...he had only been there a week, and didnt know "his normal". After telling him several times to STOP going to the management office because his OCD makes him look crazy (he is so picky, he wants everything "fixed" his way` perfectly) they called APS. The case worker was very nice. Since I am over 2-3 times a day, and he has medical care, transportation, medicates the correct way, has food, is not a hoarder, and no one is exploiting, neglecting, or abusing him there was NO case at all. The woman who reported him is actually older than my dad and works at the senior residence, and she was found to have lied to the police on a report about dad, (we got the copy of the police report, AND a spoke to the officer). When my husband called her to discuss the miscommunicated facts, she called APS the same day.
I agree with Countrymouse...don't panic. It's done to determine if elders are able to remain in their home alone, or if they need additional caregiving. I'm glad there are protections for elders, but in my case it was truly unnerving to have a report made, especially after dad's doctor said to me, "You deserve a medal for what you've done. You've gone above and beyond looking out for your dad." (exact QUOTE).. So, don't be alarmed.... suggestions might come out of it. Unless it's an extreme case, and the elder has NO help at all, it's usually family members who must be responsible for implementing the next step based on the findings of the report.
This means that the Fire Dept., Police Dept. & EMS are all doing their jobs. Now they will be performing "well being" checks on your mom. Elders' minds manifest into hallucinations, moreso at night.
I should add, my husband and I are both members of the local fire department. (It’s volunteer) our EMS is in an adjacent building, but they are a paid squad. Generally, a call comes in over “active 911” and we respond. Basically the fire department here has nothing to do with wellness checks on seniors. We get a call, we go. If it’s the same person from the same place, we still go. You never know whether it’s an alarm system malfunction or an actual fire until you get there. But, there’s no special “computer coding” for a Senior - a call is a call. Same for toddlers who dial 911. A call gets a response. I don’t know how other fire companies handle it, but we go to everything. If police, EMS, Fire Marshall, or Chief arrive first on scene and determine “no engine needed” we may get held at the station or “recalled”...(it’s expensive to run an engine if it’s not necessary)... then we go home. Our local police will do wellness checks. In fact, it’s often the highlight of their day!
One of the many brands of ‘first alert’ devices that a person can wear in case they fall or get into other trouble. With the service, you pick who gets called first, second, etc., when the person hits the alarm.
11 Answers
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
Just wondering - had much planning gone into your mother's care beforehand? At what point had she accepted the Meals on Wheels service, for example, and was this her doing or yours? I suspect you might have tips to share about good preparation.
ADVERTISEMENT
It means that the fire department and paramedics, both mandated reporters, did their job and alerted Adult Protective Services to a potential risk. What should happen now is that APS investigate the report and see what, if anything, needs to be done to protect your mother going forward.
So. If your mother has been living alone, it may be that she can't any longer. Or it may be that this happened because she has an acute infection that caused temporary confusion but can be easily put right. The important thing is to establish what happened and make sure she is getting the right support.
Are you in close touch with your mother and her support network?
This is a wake up call. You now have to realize Mom cannot be alone anymore.
IMO, it's risky for someone who is having these things happen live alone. I know of someone who became frightened of children in his home, (this was a delusion) and he ran into the street, fell and got a fractured hip, that he was never able to recover from.
Went through this recently when dad, with very early stage dementia but SEVERE OCD, asked questions at the management office of his senior residence (like to borrow glue for a broken ceramic statue), and he decided to go for a walk (they "thought" he was lost)...he had only been there a week, and didnt know "his normal".
After telling him several times to STOP going to the management office because his OCD makes him look crazy (he is so picky, he wants everything "fixed" his way` perfectly) they called APS.
The case worker was very nice. Since I am over 2-3 times a day, and he has medical care, transportation, medicates the correct way, has food, is not a hoarder, and no one is exploiting, neglecting, or abusing him there was NO case at all. The woman who reported him is actually older than my dad and works at the senior residence, and she was found to have lied to the police on a report about dad, (we got the copy of the police report, AND a spoke to the officer). When my husband called her to discuss the miscommunicated facts, she called APS the same day.
I agree with Countrymouse...don't panic. It's done to determine if elders are able to remain in their home alone, or if they need additional caregiving. I'm glad there are protections for elders, but in my case it was truly unnerving to have a report made, especially after dad's doctor said to me, "You deserve a medal for what you've done. You've gone above and beyond looking out for your dad." (exact QUOTE)..
So, don't be alarmed.... suggestions might come out of it. Unless it's an extreme case, and the elder has NO help at all, it's usually family members who must be responsible for implementing the next step based on the findings of the report.
Generally, a call comes in over “active 911” and we respond. Basically the fire department here has nothing to do with wellness checks on seniors. We get a call, we go. If it’s the same person from the same place, we still go. You never know whether it’s an alarm system malfunction or an actual fire until you get there. But, there’s no special “computer coding” for a Senior - a call is a call. Same for toddlers who dial 911. A call gets a response.
I don’t know how other fire companies handle it, but we go to everything. If police, EMS, Fire Marshall, or Chief arrive first on scene and determine “no engine needed” we may get held at the station or “recalled”...(it’s expensive to run an engine if it’s not necessary)... then we go home.
Our local police will do wellness checks. In fact, it’s often the highlight of their day!