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My elderly MIL wants to continue to live at home, but my husband and I fear for her daily safety. She is in her late 70s with Parkinson's disease. She admitted she has fallen more times than we know - she has been hospitalized 3x in the last 5 months for falls, dehydration, hallucinations and 2 of those she had fallen and was there for hours or over a day. She still suffers double vision from the head injury. She does not always take her meds properly. She is supposed to be cleared to go home from a nursing home, alone, in a few weeks. Her house has 3 levels with many steps. It is proposed she will live on the 1st level only, but there is no way she will stay on just one floor. We know due to the Parkinson's, her health will continue to deteriorate. We think that she needs to be in an independent living or assisted living facility. My in-laws think she is fine to go home and live alone. We fear that living alone will end up the way it has the last few times - she will fall and get injured, or even die, alone, which is awful for her and will of course hurt our hearts as well. But it seems like there is nothing to do but let it happen? (We have argued any number of suggestions, but no one will hear us....) Suggestions?

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Has your MIL been in a rehab facility and that’s who cleared her to go home alone? If it was the facility that gave the OK, did they set her up with home health care? When my husband was released from rehab, he was provided with therapy and a nurse visit weekly. Since you seem to be the only one who realizes what MIL’s true situation is, enlist the help of the facility’s social worker. If MIL does receive home care, they would be the ones to report to their supervisor that she cannot live alone. Otherwise, you would just become embroiled in a war with your in-law family and from experience, I can tell you that’s not fun.
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Is your husband her appointed Durable Power of Attorney and Healthcare POA?

Who will be present to work out the discharge plans from the rehab facility? Can someone tell them that there is no one at home to assist her and that other arrangements need to be made? Can she get someone to come into her home to help her around the clock? I'm not sure how they could release her if no one will sign that they will take responsibility.

Sometimes, seniors lose their good judgment and have magical thinking about what they can do. Some say they can live alone, when in fact they are bed bound. Or that they can manage with only a little help, even if they are incontinent. They cannot be relied upon when this is the case, because it's dangerous to their welfare. Her doctor may have some input too. My LO insisted that she would be okay living alone, with her neighbors checking on her a few times a week, but, in reality, she needed constant supervision, due to dementia, falls and medication needs, but, her doctor said that was completely out of the question and presribed AL for her. (She was not able to afford around the clock care in her home.)

If your husband doesn't have DPOA, I might consult with an attorney to find out the options for Guardianship. They can explain the process, the evidence you need and the costs.
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Sunny asked the right question....Who is in control? Anyone have poa? She still competent?

I think your evaluation is correct, she can't be left on her own. Hubs needs to duke this out with his family.
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It sounds like she would be safer and better off in a facility. When my mother started hallucinating we had to put her somewhere safe. You couldn't talk to her and she was becoming farther and farther away from reality. My main concern was her saftey.
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Yes, agreed, and the big issue is: "SUPPOSED to be cleared to go home from a nursing home, alone, in a few weeks. But will she be? If what you say is correct, there is scant chance of that!

As for the in-laws, let's face it, they just don't want to spend the money.

Remember that in the end, you can only do what you CAN do. Without legal authority, not much. But I doubt that she will be approved to go home.

Good luck and keep in touch!
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You are absolutely right. She needs to move to a community and the sooner, the better. Right now, she may be able to enter as independent living and, once she's a resident, the community will be working to keep her independent as possible which will benefit not only her finances, but her quality of life.
However, if your husband has a good relationship with his siblings, he will have to think about whether to damage it over this. Bring in home care as a first step. They could become your allies in persuading the other siblings. They will speak up if Mom isn't safe on her own and that will be the 'official' word your in-laws need to get moving on a move for Mom.
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When your MIL is discharged, she should leave the facility with a care plan already established. Have the nursing home staff addressed such a plan?

It strikes me, too, that your MIL's fall risk is an indicator that she is not able to live independently. Calling on her GP or neurologist for an evaluation may result in a recommendation that she be moved into an assisted living facility. If a doctor makes that determination, your in-laws' objections may subside.

Best of luck to you and your family.
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You absolutely should be concerned for her daily safety--she's more than proven she can no longer live alone.

It is hard in families to reach ONE consensus--esp hard if some of the family has been off board and don't see the whole picture. Painted in the rosy light of "Oh, we'll make one floor nice and livable for mom and someone will come in a few days a week to check on her and won't that be great?" is just not the way it works out.

The falling is a daily hazard. Any fall could be "the one" that causes the big move to a NH that you weren't ready for....and she has double vision? She shouldn't even be walking around w/o someone in attendance.

I realize you are an inlaw. I know how much weight my opinion carried on my FIL. None. But I could be a little bug in my hubby's ear, helping him to THINK and make decisions. If he has DPOA, he can override the others, something I hope will not have to happen. It's so much better if everyone is on the same page. Good Luck!!
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Believe it or not - the longer your mother is self-sufficient, the better off she is. There is nothing worse than being put in a hospital bed to await death.

You're worried? So bring her a meal a couple times a week and bring one for yourself too. The company is very therapeutic.
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Estnibor, regarding your Mom's double vision, has she seen an ophthalmologist? Not long ago I was having issues with double vision which was age related, and the eye doctor prescribed a "prism" be placed with my eyeglass prescription. What a difference :)
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