Forced medical treatment for someone with mental illness?

[jongib369]

Is this possible? My mother has untreated schizophrenia and a history of other things most likely and doesn't take care of herself in the slightest. Her teeth are rotted out, to the point if she sneezes they sometimes fall out and she puts them back in. Her current problem is she has some type of leg infection going on for over a year, but refuses to get help. We're not sure what it is but its slowly gotten worse. She's overweight to begin with but now she can't even lift her feet off the ground to walk... Just kinda scoots her feet around. I'm worried w.e rash/infection that's getting worse is going to turn into sepsis or something. No amount of pleading with her will do the trick, what should I do? Is forced treatment even an option? I can just see it getting to the point of being life threatning, with her either dying or having to have part of her leg chopped off and be pushed around in a wheel chair.

[Loco 50]

Is this possible? My mother has untreated schizophrenia and a history of other things most likely and doesn't take care of herself in the slightest. Her teeth are rotted out, to the point if she sneezes they sometimes fall out and she puts them back in. Her current problem is she has some type of leg infection going on for over a year, but refuses to get help. We're not sure what it is but its slowly gotten worse. She's overweight to begin with but now she can't even lift her feet off the ground to walk... Just kinda scoots her feet around. I'm worried w.e rash/infection that's getting worse is going to turn into sepsis or something. No amount of pleading with her will do the trick, what should I do? Is forced treatment even an option? I can just see it getting to the point of being life threatning, with her either dying or having to have part of her leg chopped off and be pushed around in a wheel chair.
That's an incredibly rough situation that I wouldn't wish on anyone, sorry to hear it. When a person is considered a danger to themselves or others they can be forcefully hospitalized in a psych unit where they will hopefully help her get stabilized. It sounds like she more than amply falls in that category.

If she's at all cooperative, you can take her in yourself and they'll get her on some anti-psychotics and clear up the infection. Ideally, as the anti-psychotics get in her system she'd be able to start taking better care of herself.

Schizophrenia is a really rough diagnosis though, and outcomes aren't stellar.

If you're afraid she may get violent they've got trained professionals for that as well.

Either way, a psych hospital is who you really need to get in touch with.

[jongib369]

That's an incredibly rough situation that I wouldn't wish on anyone, sorry to hear it. When a person is considered a danger to themselves or others they can be forcefully hospitalized in a psych unit where they will hopefully help her get stabilized. It sounds like she more than amply falls in that category.

If she's at all cooperative, you can take her in yourself and they'll get her on some anti-psychotics and clear up the infection. Ideally, as the anti-psychotics get in her system she'd be able to start taking better care of herself.

Schizophrenia is a really rough diagnosis though, and outcomes aren't stellar.

If you're afraid she may get violent they've got trained professionals for that as well.

Either way, a psych hospital is who you really need to get in touch with.
Is the psych unit different from a psych ward? Like is there a specific part of the hospital for cases like this? Last thing I want is her going to a ward, back in the 80s before she was as bad as she is now her mother forced her into one after she tried poisoning her parents, and they haven't had a relationship since as hard as my Nana tried. It's where my parents met funny enough...The last thing I want is to be her enemy, but if it comes to it I might have to be for her sake.

I'm also worried about them basically refusing to let her go because of how she is now, she went through bad postpartum depression after me and it changed her for the worse. Might be for the better, but I can't imagine that life. Shits tough.

[Loco 50]

Is the psych unit different from a psych ward? Like is there a specific part of the hospital for cases like this? Last thing I want is her going to a ward, back in the 80s before she was as bad as she is now her mother forced her into one after she tried poisoning her parents, and they haven't had a relationship since as hard as my Nana tried. It's where my parents met funny enough...The last thing I want is to be her enemy, but if it comes to it I might have to be for her sake.

I'm also worried about them basically refusing to let her go because of how she is now, she went through bad postpartum depression after me and it changed her for the worse. Might be for the better, but I can't imagine that life. Shits tough.
Hospitals generally have an isolated psych/ER for critical cases in which a patient is actively trying to hurt themself or someone else and needs to be sedated. Otherwise, if she doesn't need the ER there are hospitals entirely dedicated to psychiatry to get people that are in declining state, but aren't in critical condition back in shape. Folks that maybe haven't eaten/bathed in way too long or can't move properly maybe due to catatonia. I can say standards have improved for the better drastically since the 80's conditions wise in these facilities.

Your concern about them letting her go is a valid one as well. They won't do that until they feel she is no longer a danger to herself, but the fact is, right now from your description. She is.

The best thing you can do for her, depending on her state, is to run some quick searches on your local psych hospitals to get reviews on the condition of the facility. As with most things, if you have money, conditions will be much nicer than if you are forced to use a state funded one. Even amongst state funded ones however, a newer facility will be much nicer than an older one.

Edit:Ideally, she doesn't need a long stay. Just some antibiotics and antipsychotics as mentioned, but that is dependent on her cooperation. Most schizophrenics are horrid at taking their meds so she may need someone eyeballing her to make sure she's compliant.

I'd explain it to her something like this.

Mom, I have to get you medicine. You're not doing well. You've got an infection and you're not taking care of yourself. I'd like to take you to the hospital to get you checked out, but you have to do what they say otherwise they will keep you longer than you'd like to stay. Place the onus on her, because it's the truth. She may still blame you, but you'll have done all you really can.

[DukeDelonte13]

you have to get a guardianship. That's the only way you get get a loved one prolonged mental health treatment if that individual doesn't want it. It can take a while to get one too. You should consult with an attorney.

Schizophrenia/bipolar type 1 are treatable if the patient is cooperative with the treatment. That's the catch. Most are not. Most don't see anything wrong with themselves.

[Loco 50]

you have to get a guardianship. That's the only way you get get a loved one prolonged mental health treatment if that individual doesn't want it. It can take a while to get one too. You should consult with an attorney.

Schizophrenia/bipolar type 1 are treatable if the patient is cooperative with the treatment. That's the catch. Most are not. Most don't see anything wrong with themselves.
Attorney, eventually down the road. Care now.

[hiphopanonymous]

Mental illness related to health complications is no joke and I'm sorry you are going through this. Treat it like how my family has had to treat injury or a wound to an Alzheimers sufferer which we are dealing with - this person needs care and can not tend to themselves like an able minded person could so you do probably need to step in to allow that to happen.

Legal things for us were changed over time to allow long term care decisions to be in our hands as in our situation due to alzheimers this person was deemed incapable of making medical decisions for themselves. Don't know the exact ways to go about this - I hope other posters will provide more input for you or you google search about it with respect to your specific challenges

First and foremost deal with the care that is needed right up front and seek to do as the other posters are suggesting for the long term - it seems like sound advice. Sorry again to hear you are faced with that - do you have any siblings or other family members that may be able to help you with this? Try to get them involved if you can count on any of them

[Akrazotile]

Is this possible? My mother has untreated schizophrenia and a history of other things most likely and doesn't take care of herself in the slightest. Her teeth are rotted out, to the point if she sneezes they sometimes fall out and she puts them back in. Her current problem is she has some type of leg infection going on for over a year, but refuses to get help. We're not sure what it is but its slowly gotten worse. She's overweight to begin with but now she can't even lift her feet off the ground to walk... Just kinda scoots her feet around. I'm worried w.e rash/infection that's getting worse is going to turn into sepsis or something. No amount of pleading with her will do the trick, what should I do? Is forced treatment even an option? I can just see it getting to the point of being life threatning, with her either dying or having to have part of her leg chopped off and be pushed around in a wheel chair.


Well, for you the answer is undoubtedly complicated, since I suppose you have an emotional investment.

For me the answer is pretty simple.

Anyway I do hope things work out for you.

[Jasper]

OP call your local NAMI chapter for help.

If you can get your mother to two doctors , they can give you full guardianship.

Ideally you want to put her on Medicaid because the medication can cost up to $150,000 a year.

If you want to PM me , that is fine.
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Mental health wards are far far better than decades ago.
1-5 people in American have a mental disease.
Step programs go from one facility to another , until than can put back into society.

[Akrazotile]

OP call your local NAMI chapter for help.

If you can get your mother to two doctors , they can give you full guardianship.

Ideally you want to put her on Medicaid because the medication can cost up to $150,000 a year.

If you want to PM me , that is fine.
-------------
Mental health wards are far far better than decades ago.
1-5 people in American have a mental disease.
Step programs go from one facility to another , until than can put back into society.


Where the hell are you from, anyway??