Dear Dr. Archer,
My mother is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's Disease. I got her on Medicare and Medicaid, and found a great place to care for her. Now they are changing their status and getting rid of the beds for Alzheimer's, and I was told to move her out. I am getting ready to file bankruptcy and my husband may possibly lose his job. I cannot take time from work (or face the stress) of finding another place for her.
What am I legally bound to do? I am facing my own personal crisis and now she is back on my door step when I am about to lose everything including my house and our income? Does the facility have any responsibility to find accommodations for her since she is on Medicare/Medicaid? I have never been close to my mother, and there is no one else in the family to do this.
Colleen
Hi Colleen,
Every state has different laws, rules and regulations; so you need to consult an attorney as to what your legal responsibilities are. I do want to make the point that what you face is not uncommon. Having a parent or loved one with Alzheimer's Disease is extremely stressful for all involved. The most common problem I deal with in terms of Dementia with the family is how to split the burden of caring for the patient. In your case, there is no one to help so it's even more difficult.
So Colleen, first you need to obtain legal advice and then you and your husband need to discuss the situation and decide realistically what you can and cannot do. Make your decisions logically and try to keep emotion and guilt out of the equation.This is never an easy process, so I wish you all the best. For a better understanding of Alzheimer's related problems see the Dementia section under "Advice from Dr D".
Dr. Archer
