tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263167.post7815411787329140039..comments2024-03-28T15:17:43.056-04:00Comments on Stayin' Alive: Return of Bedlam?Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263167.post-41539126071419197282015-01-30T13:44:34.208-05:002015-01-30T13:44:34.208-05:00That JAMA link isn't working.
There definitel...That JAMA link isn't working.<br /><br />There definitely need to be more services that people in the community can access -- medicaid may be a start, but negotiating the process could be difficult for people in need of mental health services. And it won't do much for other needs -- food, clothing, shelter.<br /><br />One problem is that the law protects the independence of individuals, even if they are unable to make rational decisions, until they meet the criteria for incompetence. In my state, that is grave danger and inability to provide the necessities for oneself. At that point, a conservator might be appointed to manage the person's affairs and/or health care decisions.<br /><br />My SIL has an unusual early onset dementia, frontotemporal, and the problems at onset are with reasoning, judgement, ability to control behavior -- not with memory in the earlier stages. It took years and a series of disasters before she was legally incompetent -- she lost her marriage, her job, driving privileges, custody of her child, her house, all her money, and virtually every relationship in her life. She ended up being evicted, and having criminal charges pending. She could not understand the charges or cooperate with counsel. <br /><br />Her brother became her legal conservator. But that process itself is challenging. He had to hire a lawyer, file papers; there was a full investigation; SIL had her own lawyer appointed; things were in limbo for a while before even a temporary order could be gotten (so nobody could pay her bills); it took several court dates. And it needs to be renewed yearly, with a full accounting. This went relatively smoothly because we already had a good solid diagnosis; but not everyone is so fortunate as to have world-class neurologists to sort things out.<br /><br />Another problem is that while medicare / medicaid cover medical expenses, the medicaid only contributes to housing and food if a person is in a skilled nursing facility. There are not a lot of facilities eager to take on a patient who is much younger than most, and has behavioral issues. <br /><br />SIL has a decent retirement income plus disability checks, and that is currently covering her expenses in a closed dementia facility, barely. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have worked a long time for an outfit with excellent retirement benefits before falling ill. <br /><br />Anyway, it seems to me there are a lot of gaps in services. The last couple of years with SIL's problems have been really draining to my family, and we are in a relatively fortunate and connected situation.kathy a.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14479337952651746193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263167.post-76203055051915896452015-01-26T10:59:30.341-05:002015-01-26T10:59:30.341-05:00It is definitely a problem when people with develo...It is definitely a problem when people with developmental disabilities lose their family caregivers. Of course people with Down Syndrome can live in group homes, we don't need the big state hospitals for that, which is where they and other people with cognitive limitations were typically housed in the asylum era. The institution in Connecticut was called the Mansfield Training School, not far from my home.Cervanteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263167.post-43111023973452321962015-01-22T16:00:47.771-05:002015-01-22T16:00:47.771-05:00Timely post. This also applies to those, like my ...Timely post. This also applies to those, like my son (Down Syndrome), with a development disability. Fortunately, we can still care for him, my wife and I are in our mid 60s.<br /><br />In our state there is no entitlement to services. There is approximately a 10 year waiting list (just informed of this from his case manager). Of course, the Republican legislature in our state is "pro life".Danielnoreply@blogger.com