My Mom suffered a stroke on May 5, 2020 during Covid pandemic. Thankfully she did not contract Covid at hospital. However, upon discharge from hospital my brother chose to send her to rehab/nursing home. This was the worse decision. Instead of rehab helping Mom, they neglected our Mom causing more physical injury. In less than 24 hours at this horrible rehabilitation center, she fell and contracted pnuemonia from next patient in her room. She had to be rushed back to the hospital. Thankfully she was covid negative. She was discharged again from hospital for 2nd time but my Brother without our Mother's consent nor my knowledge chose for a second time to send our Mom to another nursing home. Our Mother is coherent and does not want to be in a rehab/nursing home. She eats mechanical food and only needs physical therapy which she can get at home. She lives with my sister and father. (Sister denied living at residence to assist brother to place her in home when she spoke to social worker at hospital.) He is keeping me, the 3rd sibling in the dark. Again, My Mother is coherent and is being held against her will at this facility. She has endured horrific trauma during this past month which no human being should endure, but yet thankfully is lucid and coherent. How can I get my Mom released to her home with medical care to be given at her own home especially during this pandemic? Social worker at present rehab advised me that she will not discuss anything with me since I am not Health Proxy, POA, nor was I placed on next of kin list at this present Rehabilitation Center. This is breaking my Mother's heart and mine as well to hear and see her suffer. No one should be held against their will. This is ABUSE. Again, She has endured so much this past month and yet, God bless her, thanks be to God, her will and determination to live and go home has been medically proven with her eating mechanical food, talking and walking. I have tried to call my siblings and they do not take my calls nor my Mom's. I send my Brother text messages and he is dismissive. Whom can I ask for help? Attorney? Mediator? Please help us. Thank you for reading this and God bless you. I look forward to your replies.
I think the big question here is can Mother look after herself independantly?
If yes & Mom is fully lucid, coherent, walking, talking then she could discharge herself & call a cab home, right?
But if not, then those caring for her, ie your sister & father get a say. A big say. If they don't feel they can look after her needs yet then they say no. Which they have done.
Why do you think your Mother's wishes to go home override anyone else's? Including a medical opinion to go to rehab?
I'm not saying this is the case here, but some parents have been known to complain to each of their children about how heartless the others are, stirring the pot and creating drama.
I know several folks, including my ex MIL who are in facilities on lockdown right now and their mental health is no worse than anyone else's during this time of crisis. Perhaps your mother's OVERALL mental health needs to be assessed. Depression following stroke is fairly common and in some places, an antidepressant and regular psychiatric follow up is part of the post-stroke protocol.
When my mom is not doing well, she thinks whichever sibling is not around can solve all her problems. I feel for her, but we all know what is going on, she is desperate.
Sounds as though father (who is elderly himself) and your sister provide care. Sounds like they are burned out.
Have you provided any of mom's care? Do you know what her needs are? Are you willing to take over as POA and provide mom's care?
Instead they should dedicate themselves to helping instead of criticizing and accusing.
What is mechanical food?😳
Looks like you are in the minority. If siblings aren't taking your calls and the facility won't talk to you, where are you getting you information, Mom? If Mom is capable of making her own decisions, she doesn't need a POA. So there must be some cognitive decline for the facility to except your brother as Moms representative.
In your situation, looks like the majority rules. It may be wise on your part to follow suit or you are going to alienate your family. Mom is where she is because the doctors felt she needed therapy. You can sympathize with her but don't encourage her leaving. Tell her to do what she is told to get stronger. Don't say anything about coming home. It may not happen.
What I see here is a sister who is caring for TWO elderly people. Does she get help, does she get a break. Moms on a special diet, so Sister is fixing 2 separate type of meals 3x a day. You don't say how Dad's health is and how Moms was before the stroke? Maybe Sister is enjoying a little respite from caring for and living with two parents. Maybe caring for a stroke victim will make Sister's life even harder. Are you willing to devote most of your day caring for Mom if she returns home? House may need upgrades for her to live in her home. It is not what Mom wants now its what she needs.
If we seem a little harsh, sorry, but this is now Moms reality. And other people need to be considered when making decisions for her care. I will assume because of the Virus you have not seen Mom. If so, you have not been able to observe her. If you could, you may see why she needs to be where she is right now. Not being able to visit makes it hard on everyone.
I think at this point you need to be supportive of the decisions your brother needs to make. Its not always easy.
My dad had a massive stroke 5 years ago. I got the call to come NOW, as it was questionable as to whether he would make it through the night. He came through, but needed months of rehab. He would not have been admitted into the rehab if he had not needed it.
He told me there were a number of people in the rehab that complained all day, rarely did their exercises and just wanted to go home. But they also wanted the 24/7 support that they had at the rehab. Meals, aids at their beck and call, bathing support and more.
Dad did fall in rehab, it was no one's fault.
He was taught by PT and OT how to walk again, how to feed himself and more. He still does his daily exercised, but is much frailer now.
Keep in mind if you find a way to bring her home, it is not a matter of arranging for PT to come once a day. There is all the equipment that they use, parallel bars were used extensively in Dad's recovery, as well as the medical equipment needed to care for someone with mobility challenges.
As others have said if your mother is mentally competent, she can change her POA. But she cannot force your sister to continue to provide care.
A physician can write an opinion about someone's capacity. If she can communicate her wishes, understand and reason she has capacity. Your mother should request to be seen by a geriatric psychiatrist or psychologist to determine her capacity.
Your brother cannot unilaterally place her in care. Doctors determine whether or not someone needs placement. You can't just drop unwanted elderly folks off at a nursing home or rehab. They have to need care. Many elderly people do not agree that they need care when they clearly do. That, all by itself, can indicate a lack of capacity.
Try not to worry. It would be very good if your brother would share information with you but families are all different. Ask him if you can be included at the next care meeting at the facility. Maybe if you hear what the doctors have to say, you will get a better idea of what care your mom needs and feel better about her getting that care in a facility.
If she hasn't done that, perhaps the mother is adjudged no longer competent to make those changes.
The OP seems to be reasoning from a false premise that "all" the mom needs is home PT. She would be eligible for in-patient rehab if "all" she needed was at home PT.
If mom is not incompetent she can change her POA to you, but then you may very well have responsibility for her 24 hour care. Would you be willing and able to step up?
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