I just heard from the LCSW and the discharge planner at the hospital. LRA stands for Lesser Restrictive Alternative. It requires another hearing and court order which will be early Friday morning right there at the behavioral unit.
The purpose of the 90 day LRA is explained to me this way: The staff has some concern that if agitated DH still shows a propensity to become aggressive. In the event he would become aggressive with me I can call and have him readmitted to the hospital. i.e. "it is a fast track" back to the hospital."
Meanwhile, I had a good appt with the facility where my Dad lives....a locked Alzheimer's care facility that has a day care. I wanted him fully set up, records and all, in the event I find I need their services. They already know DH there from going with me to visit my Dad.
I also called the home care agency and put in my request for some hours Monday through Friday next week. Waiting on a call back.
I also had an appt with the attorney who did our Will, POA's, and Directives to Physicians. I went prepared with type written questions about conflicting information I have been getting re: allowable assets and countable assets. Also about putting the real estate in my name only, and transferring the title of one of our cars to my kids name since they will be using it anyway. Just to mention again, I receive information from one source that is contradicted by another source with regard to the finances. In the end I know I'll be having to spend some money on care anyway, but the attorney is going to set up a "Special Needs Trust." It provides for exceptions, and fully protects my home......my number one concern. There is also an issue to the 401K information, and he is going to do a "case law study" on whether I can control or use half of it only. It's confusing, but he wanted to specifically check that out before advising me on it.
I felt much more secure about the financial future although I don't have all the answers yet. I just feel more secure that I'm being advised correctly. The attorney explained that our situation isn't typical of most folks he sees (kids and all) so many people do not know of the "Special Needs Trust." I'll share more about that as I learn more. Also, he commented on the fact that he is seeing so much more frequency of people seeking legal assistance for dementia related care issues. He is also realizing his own parents are beginning to have issues.
Diana LRA sounds like a wonderful program. When I first brought my husband home from an involuntary psych admit he went bonkers. I was scared to death. I called 911 and husband convinced the police it was a domestic squabble. The hospital wouldn't take him back without another court order. I finally got him admitted to another facility. HE went berserk again. At that time it was decided that he didn't meet citeria for another psych admit and the facility wouldn't keep him. Talk about total melt down. I hope things go better for you. Nora
OMG, Nora! Isn't it amazing that when facilities feel they have someone stabilized that is all there is to the story? They absolve ALL responsibility. Then another incident happens!!! Shouldn't surprise people in the field. I think that whenever someone has a condition that affects their psychiatric health, even with meds there still remains some level of fragility.
I feel blessed in this instance. I've never heard of LRA before. Never read about it in the papers either. I received a call from the D/C planner (RN) and the LCSW checking on how prepared I feel to have him back, answer any questions I might have, and they informed me of how they handle discharges and the circumstances for which they would request a court order for LRA. They said they note I am small, and DH is quite a bit taller and strong. They also do not feel it is ever good to put a dementia patient through the LOoOoooong ED wait, the county crisis team wait to be assessed, before admit. We were there 8 hours the first time around. With LRA they are on file, and can be a direct admit to the behavioral unit.
Still waiting to pick up DH. He was to be discharged between 1-2pm so I already picked up his psych meds at the pharmacy. Now they have called me to say the medical doctor has not come in to write discharge orders and order the NON psych meds. So I'm gonna try to make good use of the gift of free time.
New Realm, you are in my prayers. If you still have a sore throat try mixing 1/4 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup honey, stir and take 6 tablespoons during the day. Don't gargle - drink it. I've tried it this week - and one day of it - took care of my sore throat.
Thank you, Vickie. I will try this. DH has a really stuffy nose. Funny thing is, I can hear his nasal breathing across the room, over the TV, and I have very poor hearing. Yet DH denies having a stuffy nose. "NO, I'm fine!" he says.
Surely VICKI, you can add another ingredient to that sore throat remedy. :-0 Poor little New Realm!... I wonder if she's been screaming in her sleep! That would account for the sore throat. I hope you haven't got the flu bug!..But I'll bet your resistance is really low just from exhaustion. New Realm, are you in one of the northeastern states experiencing that cold snap? We will be up to 80 in Houston again this week. It got really cold, down to the 30's over this past weekend (at night) - 60's in the day.