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H
heathhoff Asked May 2020

How/ who do I turn to for mental health issues with my mom?

My mom lives with us and had been experiencing mental decline since this pandemic. She is experiencing things that are not happening, like the tv burning her, (3) cell phones now have shocked her, and we are trying to poison her. She recently fell and in the hospital now - they are checking her heart. She had a UTI and I understand that can cause some mental issues, but she is becoming difficult to have in the house. Where do I turn, how do I help her? She no longer has a UTI, so obviously this behavior was not a result of that. She was diagnosed with some schizophrenia back in the mid- 90's. I did not live with her then. I believe this behavior is back due to being idle from this pandemic - her mind is not busy - I try to help, but she continues to believe we are causing her to act this way that we are trying to make her "crazy". I am not trained in this, and I need help!

golden23 May 2020
Your mum needs a thorough evaluation as mentioned below. This kind of behaviour in my mother signaled that she had vascular dementia - and this was on top of her borderline personality disorder. She was in a geriatric psychiatric hospital for evaluation and getting treatment established for months. Honestly, I think she needs more and different care than you can give her. Once mother was on the right drug, she was placed in a suitable facility.

BarbBrooklyn May 2020
Please ask for a geriatric psychiatric consult while she is in the hospital. DO NOT allow them to tell you that this can be taken care of as an outpatient; there is generally a several months wait for an appointment for a geripsych that takes Medicare.

Get it done inpatient, like tomorrow.

And yes, insist that she be sent to rehab with the possibility that that placement will turn out to be permanent
Isthisrealyreal May 2020
This is not always available, unfortunately.

I was told that my moms PCP needed to do the referral and the hospital didn't offer geri-psych services.

Just a heads up for anyone that is reading. This was 2 weeks ago.

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NYDaughterInLaw May 2020
She is in the hospital and you do NOT have to accept her discharged back to your home. You can just say "No". Put the case manager/social worker on notice now that you cannot have her living with you any longer.

lealonnie1 May 2020
I think your mother needs to be evaluated for dementia and/or Alzheimer's asap. Since she's now in the hospital, bring your concerns to the hospitalist's attention and see if you can get her a geri-psych evaluation STAT!!! Paranoia and delusions can be a sign of many different mental disorders as well as dementia and Alzheimer's. Please look into this before you bring her home..........ok?

Best of luck!!

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