Mental Health Care Vent

momo2x2018
Thu, 15 Jul 2021 20:17:36 +0000

This is a very long story, I’ll try to be brief.

My elderly neighbor, who suffers from a variety of mental illnesses including psychosis and bi-polar disorder, has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals much of her life; she is presently on her third involuntary in-patient this calendar year. Right now, she is in 14-day hold, previously this year, she had a 30-day and another 14 day. Last year, she was involuntarily held 4-6 times!

Neighbor’s sister has tried, unsuccessfully, to have the treating psychiatrist declare her temporarily unable to care for herself so that she (the sister) can implement a care plan and take charge of day-to-day matters. So far, sister had met with brick wall after brick wall.
NONE of the treating professionals are willing to step outside their comfort zone.

In the meantime, last night, the undercover narcotic squad did a sting of sorts, based on an anonymous tip (it wasn’t me!). While they did not find anything arrestable, they told me that the situation is suspect; the so called roommate, who may or may not have gang affiliation, is somebody my neighbor recently moved in to her home, may be abusing her ie she (neighbor) has made claims of beating (I witnessed a sizeable bruise) hair pulling, yelling etc. neighbor has also claimed roommate has taken control of her passwords / ATM cards etc.

Last night, the Police called son and agreed he seemed pretty checked out; the son, who lives out of state, is not married and has no children, yet he is unwilling to step up and come to his mom’s aid. Regardless of whatever relationship they have or do not have, I cannot fathom hearing my mom is the potential victim of physical and or financial abuse, and being unwilling to intervene. the officer told me it is imperative that one of the family has to step-up.
The officer categorically told the son, it is his belief that his mom (neighbor) is at risk for significant abuse and defrauding.

That’s the backstory. Here’s the question : Is the sister permitted to petition the court as an individual, with decades of medical records to back her request, for temporary guardianship / POA to manage her sister’s affairs until the medical and home life is more stable? If so, how does she go about it?

Thank you!!!