Expert: Michalene Peticca - 3/7/2009

Question
My mother has done the rounds with medications--which al seem to make her condition worse.  She has been in a small town nursing home, no specialy unit for Alzheimer's,  since September.  She has deteriorated rapidly, since they have to "control" her with medications. She is on geodon, they are giving her injections almost daily and morning/night doses.  There is nothing developed for Alzheimer's patients so they use ativan, geodon, whatever they can.  Her husband is still alive, she is 73 and in moderate stage.  She feels like a prisoner and her ill husband does not visit  I want to take her 200 miles away to Denver, close to me.  The facility has a specialy unit for Alzheimer's.  Her husband won't let her come home and he won't let me take her.  I'm the only child. I feel that her life would be better close to me, either living with me or in a specialy facility .  Is there any way a person can be taken out of a nursing home for a few weeks to see if they get better without shutting the door on options to re-enter? or -What would happen if she was able to come home with me for a year, then had to go back in?  Would Medicare/Medicaid kick back in.  Her husband is 85 and living with his daughter, the home and belongings are still intact at this time.  

Thank you

Answer
Hello Sherry,

Thank you for writing. I hear the deep concern in your letter and i know you want to do what is best for your mother.

It sounds like your mother's husband is not your biological father? However, he is still her husband and has "legal" control over her person because of marriage.  

I'm not sure you want to go down this road, but you are certainly able to petition for guardianship of your mother.  If so, you would need to contact a lawyer and you would actually be set up for a court appearance in her town wherein you would have to face your step-father, his daughter (probably other family) and tell the judge why you feel your mother is in grave danger under her current situation and what you would be willing to do to help her.  Once guardianship is granted, you must be willing to assume the needs of your mother by making nursing home placement, being available 24/7 for emergency calls, etc. and overall her financial accounting for Medicare, Medicaid.  Your mother would be your total responsibility.

If that sounds like something you want to pursue, then i would contact a good Elder or family law lawyer.

I certainly do believe that Alzheimer/Dementia units are beneficial for the individuals.  The strongest point being is that they generally have very little medications for "behavior" challenges because there are minimal behaviors being displayed from reactions to environment or untrained staff.   So, yes, i do believe your mother would do very well in this type of setting and yes, i feel she would not likely need a good portion of the medications she is now receiving.  

However, i do feel that moves need to be permanent.  No, i do not agree to taking her for a few weeks or just a year somewhere to "see" how she will do.  Anytime you change an Alzheimer's environment, you are looking at approximately 3-6 mths. of "re-grouping" and "re-patterning" the brain to respond to a new environment, people, etc.   Ever move to a new house or new city?  How long did it take you to become "comfortable" with knowing where everything was?  It's incredibly taxing on an Alzheimer individual.

So, i hope that has given you some more food for thought.  I know you will do all you can for your mom.

Best Regards,

Michalene Peticca, MA