The hard and simultaneously wonderful thing about rehab is that you are out of touch with the alcoholic in your life. You hope that he or she is in good hands and that they can "work their magic".
My mom was at Caron (their website) for less than a week before they called to say that they could "not care for her physical needs". I guess they initially thought that they could, but then changed their minds. My mom's therapist also called to tell me my mom was one of the most difficult clients they had ever had because she wouldn't really participate in the program (she was just going through the motions) and denied that she was an alcoholic.
I understand that my mom is a difficult client, but is she really unreachable? She's 56 years old and she's going to die if she keeps drinking. I just don't get it.
Anyway, so then Caron told us that they would pro-rate the $30,000 we paid them (WHY IS REHAB SO EXPENSIVE?) and send her to the Hanley Center (website here), which is a rehab center that caters to elderly people, so they would have the nursing staff to help take care of my mom.
The Hanley Center just called to let us know that my mom was not cooperating (even though SHE decided to go to rehab...it's VOLUNTARY) and that we (my brother, sister and I) need to have a group phone call with my mom to "decide what the next step is".
It is so infuriating. I spoke with my mom yesterday and she was just angry and agitated. She "doesn't want to be there". She "misses home". I just have no sympathy. I hate her so much right now. I just don't get it. Is it the mental illness that makes it SO difficult to get through to her?
Why does she want to die like this?
Showing posts with label Caron. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Caron. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
From the psych ward to REHAB
My mom stayed in the psych ward for a little over a week. I am just not convinced that locking people away from the community is the best form of treatment. I understand that some people are a danger to themselves or others, but the "locking up" part just seems so detrimental to a person's spirit. Is isolating people with mental illnesses really all we've got?
I need to read more about community-based living for people with mental illnesses.
Anyway, trying to get my mom transferred to a private care rehab center was a NIGHTMARE. The hospital did not want to help with that at all (even though they stressed the importance of an aftercare plan). It was so frustrating. No one would send her records (even after a medical release), speak with the treatment facilities, or even us. They would hide in their break room and refuse to speak with us. I'm angry just thinking about it now. Ugh.
I started to wonder if we were we an overbearing family, but even if we were...I'd rather have someone looking out for my mom's best interests. This hospital was like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Just awful. The psychiatrist who first saw my mom said that he would never send someone in HIS family to this hospital.
Good question to ask staff: What would you do if this were your mom/family member?
Anyway, my mom finally was transferred to a treatment center called Caron (read about it here) that said they would be able to handle my mom's:
1. alcohol addiction
2. mental illness
3. physical problems
....even though they actually couldn't.
I need to read more about community-based living for people with mental illnesses.
Anyway, trying to get my mom transferred to a private care rehab center was a NIGHTMARE. The hospital did not want to help with that at all (even though they stressed the importance of an aftercare plan). It was so frustrating. No one would send her records (even after a medical release), speak with the treatment facilities, or even us. They would hide in their break room and refuse to speak with us. I'm angry just thinking about it now. Ugh.
I started to wonder if we were we an overbearing family, but even if we were...I'd rather have someone looking out for my mom's best interests. This hospital was like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Just awful. The psychiatrist who first saw my mom said that he would never send someone in HIS family to this hospital.
Good question to ask staff: What would you do if this were your mom/family member?
Anyway, my mom finally was transferred to a treatment center called Caron (read about it here) that said they would be able to handle my mom's:
1. alcohol addiction
2. mental illness
3. physical problems
....even though they actually couldn't.
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