Evaluating a temporary geriatric psych facility stay

[Osha Murray]

My husband's mother is in memory care and due to some behavioral issues the staff has suggested a temporary stay at a geriatric psych facility for medication evaluation. We've been given a couple of options but we have little information to base a decision on. For those who have gone through this what was the admission process like? What specific questions should we ask the facility to understand their treatment goals and the criteria for returning to her current memory care home?

 

[carecirclevoice163]

When you're checking out a memory care place, ask how they handle medication reviews, what the typical stay is like, and their discharge plans. Also, find out how they team up with the memory care staff. Getting in usually means going through some mental health checks and insurance stuff

 

[Simonee]

Isn't it troubling how families are expected to make life-altering decisions about geriatric psych care with barely any real guidance? Why isn't there a standard, transparent process to evaluate these facilities especially when meds and dignity are both on the line?

 

[Osha Murray]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. We're feeling the weight of it too, trying to make the right call with limited info and a lot of unknowns. We'll ask about how they coordinate with her current memory care team and what their discharge planning looks like. For the mental health checks and insurance part, is that usually handled before admission or once she's already there? If anyone has also experienced how facilities define "stabilization" before discharge, that would help us know what to expect.