Long story short. My mother was taken into custody by DSS in her state. She spent a month in a psychiatric unit and then transferred to an assisted living facility where she has been for the last 2 months. I am in the process of requesting conservatorship which requires a physician affidavit of incapacity. Her internist, who has seen her for 20 yrs won't sign saying the psychiatrist at the psych unit should sign. The psychiatrist states he cannot sign unless he has visually seen her in the last 24 hrs and she would have to be readmitted for that to happen.
Everyone that deals with her recognizes the mental issues (she's 94). Must have the affidavit to proceed.
I feel like I've hit a brick wall. Any suggestions?
There may may be additional fees, but the cost is worth having the document in hand. We were dealing with a contentious and non-productive family situation which was readily resolved when I had the document.
Bottom line-the cost of getting someone to assess her circumstances wherever they need to go to get to her, is WORTH the cost.
Hope the rest of your efforts go more smoothly.
I think I'd probably start by sending an email, copied to both of these practitioners, inviting them to resolve this issue in consultation with one another. Once they have, perhaps they would be good enough to recommend next steps.
Fume. The whole thing reminds me of a political cartoon I once saw of a premier operating a remote control on a junior minister and swearing "No, right! I said go right! Not round and round in circles - God! - you really are a crap robot..."
"Crap robot" is quite a handy term for other types of people who are paid to solve problems but come over all helpless, too.
Go ahead and also talk to elder care attorney just to confirm all the steps and so that you get the proper paperwork the first time.
Is anyone POA?
How is the facility getting paid?
If you are paying bills for her but do not have the "legal authority" to do so at some point the facility will bend over backwards to do what they can to help you obtain guardianship so they can get what is owed to them.
If the facility Social Worker does not help or will not help next time your Mom is admitted to the hospital ask the hospital Social Worker and when she is brought in to the hospital even if she is not admitted ask for the psychiatrist to evaluate her then have him sign what he needs to.
I would think a court would accept the diagnosis in the patients file in place of an affidavit.
Have you consulted an Elder Care Lawyer? They might help in this matter as well.
Please keep us posted I am sure others have gone through this or will at some point and would love to know how this is resolved
The facility has a dr on call get that set up, or transfer.
In defense of your mother's internist - he has to protect himself from malpractice and also he is supposed to be "for" your mother and protect her rights.
Id also see if you can go to the head of the department in the psych unit. They saw her there at the time. How did she miraculously improve so much?
You need help and the docs keep pushing it off. You can always cry a bit, say your overwhelmed by this and no one will help, just passes the buck etc, etc.
Tell them you are out of state. You need help. They have her records. Its rediculious you have to take off from work and drive sev states to deposit her in the psych docs office. Which then he wont be there, or you have to re-admit.
Or just wait till she requires hospitalization or doc visit again.
Go to the head of the hospital if you have to and explain you need help. Good luck.
You can also ask the DSS for help, or call the dept of aging in the state and county she was in. Explain the situation. Good luck.
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