11 Feb 2007
Dear Mary,
My wife has dementia and one day she got into our car in the cold garage and I could not persuade her to get out. The thought crossed my mind that maybe she was trying to commit suicide the way elderly Eskimos did. Not knowing what else to do, I called 911 and a police officer responded. He called the Crisis Response System who arrived and successfully got her into the house. I found them very helpful and compassionate and want others to know of this valuable resource in AnneArundelCounty.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for sharing this important information. The Crisis Response System is part of the Mental Health Core Service Agency that can be reached through the “warm line” in Anne Arundel County at 410-768-5522. It responds to psychological and social situations that may benefit from mental health interventions. A preliminary assessment is done by phone and, if warranted, a home visit made. Specially trained counselors assist in finding appropriate services and resources that may also include hospitalization. Unfortunately, I am told by the Maryland Mental Hygiene Agency that this service is not available in every county and is referred to by different names such as the Mobile Crisis Team in Howard County. Other counties that do provide it include: Baltimore and Baltimore City, Prince Georges, Harford, and Montgomery. Some agencies are integrated within local police departments while others are strictly mental health and each responds to its own specific jurisdictional needs. The Maryland Association of Core Service Agencies ( www.bmhsi.or/MACSA.htm or 301-682-9754) has contact information by county and a toll free number exists for 24-hour assistance: 1-800-888-1965.
Dear Mary,
I read with interest your response to the letters about hoarding and safety. You said that the situation should be dealt with cautiously and slowly and to involve the person. This is all well and good if the person is cooperative and can remember from day to day why his things are gone. My father is a packrat too, and no talking, involving him, or using an outside agency could budge him. His memory is too far gone to hang onto the reason for getting rid of his stuff so my brother and I did it without his consent. The good news is he is not angry at us because he doesn’t remember who did it, the bad news is he called the police a few times to report he had been robbed. Fortunately, even that has been forgotten. All in all, we did what needed to be done and feel much better.
Dear Reader,
You have successfully eased your conscience about one safety issue but ignored the most important one: his ability to live alone. A person whose memory is “far too gone” is at high risk for malnutrition, dehydration, and injury. Do you know how much he is eating and drinking or if he is taking his medicine? Does he leave the stove on or water running? Is he bathing and changing his clothes? Is he paying his bills? In my opinion this situation is a tragedy waiting to happen. Waste no time in getting your father a thorough medical and psychological evaluation and finding him a safe environment to live.
Mary C. Fridley RN, BC
|
