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Early onset, 64 yr old male, no other medical problems. We cant find placement because of his age, and minor behaviors. Its becoming increasingly difficult to care for him at home. Finally to the point that he would qualify for Medicaid, but seems like a long drawn out process, 4 to 6 weeks, and we need help now. currently in an ER under observation, and it seems the only possible route is to have him committed to a phsyc ward, which would be awful, he is not nuts, but in stage 5 dementia. Any suggestions would be helpful

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I have not heard of that being a problem. Perhaps others will chime in here.

The hospital will TELL the poa they can get into trouble. I think I'd ask a lawyer.

Before going into a facility, both the poa and facility neds to understand the financials. How did the poa understand the financial situation at the time of admission as a self pay patient? When my mom was being discharged from the hospital to NH, discharge planning talked to us in detail about how long mom needed to be able to self pay before she could be a medicaid patient at various facilities. Someplaces it was a year, someplaces it was three.

It sounds as though someone needs to take charge, find out from an eldercare attorney what poa can and cannot do.
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but legally can a POA get in trouble for that? refusing to pick him up?
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Refuse to pick him up. Have you tried that?

they won't release him by himself. This is a tactic that is sort of the nuclear option. But it does work.
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he is currently in a hospital, for just 48 hours. 3rd time in 4 weeks. nothing is being done to help him get placed in a memory care unit. they keep sending him home with a family member. family really is unable to care for him. we take time off work, we are all being financially drained, also emotionally and physically. cant sleep because he wanders all night. we don't see any aggressive behavior at home, he is just restless.
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I'm sorry, I see that you say that he is close to being eligible for Medicaid.

Won't they admit him to the hospital? "Under observation" has insurance implications for some.
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Sorry that I misunderstood. Does he have a psychiatrist who is treating him who has admitting privileges at a psych hospital? You want him in a bed, with the behaviors being treated with meds, right?

What would prevent him from qualifying for Medicaid? Has that been explored?
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two geriatric phsyc wards. he was placed for 4 months in a skilled nursing facility, and they involuntarily discharged him when he could no longer self pay, so much for planning! and then he spent one week in a memory care assisted living, they too discharged him for behaviors and inability to self pay. Every place we call, elderly advocates, DHS, Agency on Aging, they all give us the run-around. Also, we cant get in home care because he is not on disability, and SS is also giving us the run around on that. so frustrating!
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The two what? Nursing homes? Memory Care? Assisted Living? Once he is admitted, you will have access to discharge planners.
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the two that we have tried that specialize in this, wont take him because they say he is too young and strong, and their general population is 80 to 90 yrs old. He is currently being observed in an ER, for 48 hours, if they don't find a place I don't know what we are going to do!
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I question your assumption that a psychiatric evaluation would be awful. On the proper meds, he will be easier to care for, either at home or in a facility.

Dementia is a disease of the brain. There are often behavioral manifestation (agitation, delusions, paranoia, depression) that can be ameliorated by meds. Give it a chance.
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Having him committed to a geriatric psych ward is literally the best thing you could do for him. While in the ward, they will carefully monitor his behaviors and symptoms and be able to fine tune a medication protocol that will result in his aggressive or violent behaviors being eliminated and his anxiety and discomfort reduced. I think you may have a misunderstanding about what a psych ward can really do for him. I urge you to go this route. When he is done with is stay at the psych ward, there will be so many more options for him for placement.

Angel
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