Mom has Alzheimer’s, we were told by nurse she has had perfect behavior with no incidents , but they were going to diagnose her as bipolar. My mom definitely is not bipolar, never witnessed any mood swings. We are trying to figure out how to refuse treatment.
Ask for a test for UTI and make sure it is the test that takes several days for results, not the quickie test that misses infections.
If no one is her PoA or Medical Representative then it's true, they don't have to divulge anything to you, regardless that you are family.
DId they test her for a UTI?
Does she live with you, or on her own?
If the psychiatrist treats her based upon the symptoms s/he sees, then this will help her, so why would you try to block this treatment? Does it matter whether the meds address her anxiety/agitation/whatever due to ALZ or BD? What did she do that landed her in the psych ward?
B) Who is the POA here? Who has an advance directive document appointing them as the person to be "informed"? Who is the next of kin? Who found out mother was hospitalized? Who has visited mother in hospital? Does mother give her permission for ONE PERSON who will be informed? And who is that person? In other words WHO IS MANAGING MOTHER'S CARE now she has dementia?
C) Does the POA/next of kin have the name of the diagnosing Neuro Psychiatric physician who diagnosed your mother with bipolar disorder?
D) How well informed are you about LOBD (late onset bipolar disease after age 60, which constitutes 25% of those recently diagnosed.)
This from the internet:
" Late-onset bipolar disorder (LOBD) typically occurs when a person is over the age of 50 years12. Research suggests that older adults with bipolar disorder may experience:
More frequent episodes
More depressive episodes and less time spent in manic or hypomanic states
Less severe manic symptoms and fewer psychotic features with mania
New symptoms, such as irritability and poor cognition
Lower risk of suicide, although this may be due to survivorship bias"
Often the only way to diagnose the many manifestations of bipolar is to understand whether or not Lithium works (some think we should add it to our water supplies! That's how effective it can be).
Your mother has dementia you tell us. Are you CERTAIN that is the case? LOBD (Late onset bipolar disease) is sometimes mistakenly diagnosed as dementia.
So step one here, for you, is to find out who the medical/general POA is for mother (or guardian or conservator) so that someone can get information from her physician.
There is certainly nothing that we here on Forum can do to help you but say "so sorry to hear this". You must get informed. Do update us. You present us with a fascinating thread here.
AND.....It's odd to me that the dr doesn't want to speak to family to evaluate.
However, if she was admitted with Alz diagnosis, I believe her signature would not be legally authorized. The part about not returning phone calls seems off.
Contact an attorney immediately. I would also consider contacting:
* licensing board of this facility.
* Umbudsman
Gena / Touch Matters
As for bi polar thing. I really feel like you would know. Or you would be like a light bulb moments,and be saying, oh that's what's been wrong her whole life.
You would of had some sign , unless your heads in the sand but it doesn't sound that way to me
Best of luck. I'm so sorry 😞
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