I'm dealing with a mother in law who refused her meds and told the nurse...?

Question

never ot come back, won't take her coumadin (blood thinner) and now her legs have holes in them (on the calves) and are seeping blood and pus. I had been going over to take her meds to her and last week she abrubtly said "no more poison".
Come on it is only one pill. When the nurse told me she must have been spitting them out for the 3 weeks prior because he blood work looks lower than a person who never takes coumadin. I ?'ed her. Yep she was spitting them out.
A little history--She is paranoid schitzophrenic, never took a anti-physicotic med and refuses. Her denial of care is one in which I am lost because my husband wants to put her back in the hospital (this would be the 3rd time) She is a danger to herself and who knows if she has the flesheating bacteria on her legs ??
What would you do? Leave her stay at home and change the dressing 3 times a day and bring over meals or 302 her to the hospital? I think she should just stay at home?? OPIONIONS??

Answer 1

Right now ... I believe that you and your husband need to sit down and discuss your next few steps ... and this can include both of you petitioning the court to make her YOUR joint dependent ...

With all the problems of her NOT taking her medications, the danger to her self .. and given that she has known mental illness problems .. well .. the Dependency most likely will be decided in your favor.

Let me tell you this though .. because taking care of an individual with all these problems and illnesses is SO HARD on the caregiver -- and you WILL suffer burn-out (eventually). (Boy, do I know this situation -- for I was a Long Term Single Parent of TWO Disabled children -- and yes, I did suffer burn-out ... and had to get a fulltime caregiver for them for a couple of weeks while I chilled out ... ) Given that she has already abused her Caregiver Nurse by telling her "Never come back again" and ADMITTED not taking her Meds ... do you think she is going to be any easier for you to care for?

PLEASE seriously consider hospitalization until she is stabilized and the problems with her legs/blood poisoning (yes, a real worry in this case), infections, and whatever else are TREATED.

Answer 2

This is a tuff one to answer or even offer any opinion but i will give it a shot to try to help. The choice to remain at home should always be the first choice however if being home alone puts a frail individual in more risk then you could entertain the idea of hiring a companion, or consider an private owned assisted living retirement home of less than 6 residents for 24 hour supervision and care as needed. A few of resources are below. It is also important for you to know that the wounds require skilled care by a nurse which is covered by Medicare and the attending doctor and the visiting nurse caring for your mother in law wounds usually recommend visits by a nurse aide at least 3x weekly including bathing, dressing etc. and for you there is respite care and social service intervention which honestly can make all of this so much more pleasant for you and your husband and most important ensures the quality of life for the patient, Back to the question of refusing meds maybe you could ask the nurse for liquids or alternatives or consider a nutritionist which can help plan a better diet in conjunction with coumadin as per the information found links below. Most of all Good Luck! I know it;s like an emotional roller coaster and you will deserve an award and the respite.

Answer 3

I would consider treatment again. I would call her Doctor and explain the situation. Sometimes treatment takes several times before a big change is noticed. If it becomes recommended that she go into the hospital, please inform the staff about her habit of spitting out pills. Maybe she can receive the medications in different routes (IV, injection, so on) or maybe the nurse could stay with her longer to confirm that the pills have gone down. Try to share this information with everyone, because the information may or may not be passed on. Good luck to you.

Answer 4

If she is mentally ill, your husband needs to get power of attorney. It's great that you want to take care of her, and I'm sure that you are doing a good job. But she needs 24 hour care. I hate to say it, but hospitalization might be the best thing for her at this point, especially if she is refusing her meds.

Answer 5

I'm sorry. As a retired nurse I've seen people do this to themselves. I would think her best chance of recovering would be in a hospital; perhaps, for only a short period of time until she can be regulated. She could possibly develop a clot that will kill her if she doesn't get proper treatment of some kind. I would notify her doctor and ask for his/her advice. God love you...

Answer 6

That is a tough one. Someone like her needs to have almost 24 hour care. If neither you or your husband can do it or arrange for someone to stay there then is best you put her in a home. It is a difficult descition and something that needs to be discussed with all parties involved.

Answer 7

If a person refuses care, she may be smarter than all the rest of you. Hate to say it but her life sounds horrible under the best of circumstances. Can she answer the question of what SHE wants done?

Answer 8

m There's nothing you can do unless you have a living child that will sign a court order that she is a danger to herself and have her committed. Once this starts it starts a whole new journey in her life and all of yours, she's going to hate you all for a time, thinking your all out to "get her" this is normal.

Answer 9

You will need to go to court to get an order naming you and your husband the responsible ones and then get
make her take medications.She Will have to be named component. Good luck.

Answer 10

Until the court decides that she cannot make medical decisions on her own, she can refuse treatment.