My mother suffers from multiple health issues and was recently admitted to the hospital about 3 weeks ago. I decided to find her a place to live where she can be cared for as I cannot take care of anymore at the level she needs because I am disabled myself. The hospital told us there was nothing wrong and she could go home and when we tried to work with the social worker she refused to help us with placement. We then started working with a social worker for Medicaid and when Medicaid called the hospital for the records she was informed that my mother had been discharged. We called the hospital and went there but we're not told anything about where she was discharged to. We have now been informed that Department of Health and Social Services is starting a case against me for abandonment due to the hospital social worker not helping. What can I do about this?
I was a nurse my entire career.
I believe we are missing a lot in this story, because as I said, it makes no sense whatsoever.
At one point you tell us your mother was judged competent for discharge and was discharged without your knowledge to where you have zero idea.
At the next moment you tell us you are being charged with abandonment.
Again. That makes ZERO sense. Given that there is little we can do but suggest that when you get your court date you ask for a court appointed attorney or you bring your own.
If you wish to give us more information so we might make some "uneducated" guesses then start here:
1. Are you the POA or guardian for your mother.
2. When did she enter the hospital and for what reason
3. While your mother was in the hospital did you make regular visits to her and receive updates from her doctor?
4. Does your mother suffer from diagnosed dementia?
5. Does your mother have a mental disorder?
6. Where was your mother living? Own home alone? Own home with others? Your home? Apartment alone? Apartment with others?
The records of the Hospitals social workers will reflect that you attempted to both prevent discharge unsafely and that you were not notified of discharge, and etc. Your attorney can subpoena those records.
Good luck. Hope you will update this because you have just come in for our "mystery of the day award" I am afraid.
Did you say you would not be picking her up?