My cousin told me my aunt was released from rehab after knee surgery two weeks ago. She said she's "coming along". I seriously doubt that. I'm sure my aunt is still having the same issues she's had before the knee surgery. I'm surprised they released her so early.
I have tried to call my aunt since she's been home to see how she's doing. She doesn't answer. I don't want to call my cousin who lives near my aunt, because she'll get started on me to come and stay with aunt to help her out. My aunt made it clear to me that she is not hiring any more caregivers to help her out, even though she needs all the help she can get. Since my aunt's neighbor moved away, she is now all alone. She's got dementia, and mobility issues. She's not going to clean herself, her house, or feed herself. She wouldn't even let me help her when I was there with her months ago. I want to visit her, but last time I visited, her house was a filthy mess with mattresses soiled in all bedrooms and not to mention other hygienic problems there. I stayed with the neighbor until I had it professionally cleaned. Neighbor is no longer there, so nowhere to sleep.
We can't get aunt to agree to a nursing home. That's where she belongs. Now she hasn't any caregivers there, either. She clearly doesn't need to be alone, but she is. I have stepped away, but still am concerned and just want to get her into a nursing home. I don't think adult protection services will do it, and I no longer hold POA. I don't believe she has one.
12 Answers
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
Stop borrowing trouble. Stay OUT of this situation and go on with your life.
ADVERTISEMENT
You might find out if discharged herself from rehab against Medical advise, which might have triggered the rehab to call APS.
You could all call her local police department to ask for a wellness check.
And finally, you could call her local Area Agency on Aging and ask their advice.
Its really nice that you have empathy for her. I could empathize with one of my Aunts, but there was no way I would ever care for her. She drove all her nieces and nephews up a wall.
Please do come back and tell us how you were able to handle this.
You need to let this go. If anyone could be held responsible for ur Aunt, it would be the family that lives near her and they can't be held responsible either.
Did you call the SW at Rehab and tell her that releasing Aunt would be an unsafe discharge? Have you done anything that we have suggested? If not then I don't know what more we can do or say. We have suggested what has worked for us and others our suggestions have helped.
I just merely wanted to express some concerns and vent. Sorry if I frustrate you. Thanks.
You're either IN or OUT in this kind of situation. One step IN and you may as well sign up for FT CG.
Thsi neighbor was kind to help you out. But sounds like your aunt is going to go back to the dynamic she was used to.
Let APS do their thing. It is maddeningly slow, and they have pretty 'low' standards, in my opinion about who is 'fine' to be left alone and who isn't.
I'd let the cousin handle things. This is not your mother, yet if APS gets wind of your involvement, they may reach out to you.
It's truly sad, but some people are perfectly happy living in filth and disorganization.
You cannot MAKE someone take care of themselves.
They might have released her early because she either checked herself out or she wasn't cooperating with PT, or not improving.