Expert: Libby Bonner - 8/14/2008

Question
Dear Libby, My brother is 60 yrs old. He has been treated for depression for the last 10 years. After a relapse into alchohol, he was newly diagnosed with bi-polar disorder.
He is VERY volitile and scarey. He lives with my mother who is in her 80's and can not take the stress as she has just recovered from Depression.
Are there any facilities that will take him until he adjusts and responds to his meds? He has Kaiser Medical Insurance.We live in Northern California, East Bay Area.

Answer
Is he taking any meds?  Will his doc talk w/ you - maybe not, re privacy - to suggest residential placement.

Or have you talked to Kaiser about it?

Your best bet is local info. Call a NAMI affiliate near you, nami.org, or the state NAMI office to get some ifo on residential care and perhaps an atty near you re guardianship, committals, etc.  The nami.org also lists some attys, but the state office may know of others.

If he is a veteran, your problems might be solved - call the VA, or a VA hospital.

Is there any chance your mom could live w/ you briefly if no other residence can be found for your brother.  He might be a great danger to her - do you think she could and would call 911?  How is her own health?  Could she remove herself from danger if need be?

This book might help you and your mother if you must continue dealing w/ him at this time.  Author is Woolis; title is When someone you love has a mental illness.  Do pls buy a copy.  It will be your guide to relating more successfully w/ him and to protecting yourself and avoiding accidentally setting him off...  You will not feel nearly as helpless.  It has helped thousands.

Here is a last thought.  Many metro areas have some police w/ training in dealing w/ the mentally ill.  Find our if your police district is one.  It might be possible to alert those persons assigned to your mom's area of this situation....  I suggest this so that 1] a 911 call from there might get better, more appropriate attention, and 2] a 911 call there might keep the guns in the holsters.

Good luck and pls write again if I can help and/or if new Qs arise.