My mother in law moved to Las Vegas with her common-law-husband last year. She was diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic about 20 years ago, but other than a brief hospitilization, never was on medication and she denies her problem. She's seems to have had a falling out with her SO, and has left us confused messages to that effect, and it sounds like she may be facing being homeless and broke in a strange city. (She's sometimes able to hold down a job, but has been living on rental income from her old house.) What resources are available, federal or state (nevada), that I can point her at? We simply can't afford to "save" her, and I don't know that she would accept our help in the first place. She wants to move back to the midwest, but doesn't have the resources to do that herself (and neither do we!) We also don't want her to repeat this sort of emergency in the future. Thanks for any ideas...
2007-02-25 15:01:10 · 6 answers · asked by Tim D 1 in Health ➔ Mental Health
First if she is clinically diagnosed your wife should be able to file for legal guardianship based on her diagnosis. Then you can admit her to a mental health hospital where she is forced in a since to get treatment as she wont be able to "check herself out." You can also call local authorities and notify them of your mother in laws condition and that she may not be competent or able to understand what is going on. They can hold her and admit her to a mental health facility and hold her for at least 24 hours. As for avoiding future incidences, she needs to be on meds. The meds will help alleviate the voices and her paranoia and she needs to get counseling from a licensed clinical psychologist.
2007-02-25 15:13:26 · answer #1 · answered by wlfrvn3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She might be a candidate for Disability or SSI. Start with getting her to a doctor. Call the police where she lives if you think she is in danger. That can sometimes start the ball rolling. It's difficult if you don't live near her. Unfortunately our government didn't think these people needed a place to be where they would get the care they need and they closed most of the institutions that would otherwise be available to help her. Good luck.
2007-02-25 15:10:58 · answer #2 · answered by nurserachet_0000 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your situation is not one I envy!
It's great that you care enough to ask this question on her behalf, but you are right in that there's not much you can do from where you are located. There are not any federal resources for Mental Health issues - they delegate that function to the individual states and simply give them funding.
Therefore, the resource your mother in law needs to be connected to is:
http://mhds.state.nv.us/mh/
If you feel, at any time, that she is a danger to herself or others, please pursue an involuntary 3-day hold to force her to get the treatment she needs. It is not at all uncommon for a paranoid schizophrenic to be non-compliant in her treatment regime.
2007-02-25 15:15:19 · answer #3 · answered by Frederieka F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All mother in laws are mentally ill... direct her to go to some sort of mental hospital if she doesn't have health insurance then the state can help... if she doesn't want to get help then there isn't anything u can do... :-(
good luck!!
2007-02-25 15:08:28 · answer #4 · answered by Carley 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call the "Center for the Aging" in your area. They'll have all the answers to your problem.
2007-02-25 15:06:19 · answer #5 · answered by TJTB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that sucks.
2007-02-25 15:15:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋