In most cases, with medical treatment or therapy, people struggling with mental illness, substance abuse or dementia are able to live productive lives. Others need the safety net of conservatorship to ensure their well-being. In this blog, we will share steps which should be considered prior to conservatorship, if your loved one is exhibiting warning signs that their health is in decline, and how to obtain a conservatorship pre-screen.
Dementia
Do you have a loved one who may be showing increased cognitive decline? Or displaying more repetitive behaviors than usual? Maybe this loved one has recently been forgetting to pay their bills or repeatedly overpaying their bills? Or perhaps they are increasingly unable to remember the most basic of words? All these signs point to a condition that studies believe 110,000 adults will be living with by 2025 in Alabama - dementia. Defined as the persistent or progressive loss of intellectual function, individuals struggling with dementia may also face worsening symptoms such as:
◦ Memory Loss
◦ Confusion
◦ Mood swings
◦ Apathy
◦ Stress
◦ And much more
If you have a loved one who may be struggling with dementia, and is unable to make or communicate decisions, scroll down to learn more about additional steps that should be considered or click here to learn more about conservatorship and how to make an appointment for a pre-screening.
Substance Abuse
Have you noticed a recent change in a loved one's physical appearance? Or found evidence of excessive or persistent drug or alcohol abuse? Have you seen increased involvement with EMS or police from this loved one's risky behavior? Have they begun neglecting their appearance or hygiene? All these signs point to an individual struggling with substance abuse. According to studies, opioids are a factor in 49% of all overdose deaths. In the state of Alabama alone, there are enough opioids prescribed to serve 98% of the state. Individuals struggling with substance abuse may also show heightened symptoms of:
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stress
• Risky behavior
• And much more
If you have a loved one who is struggling with substance abuse, and is unable to make or communicate decisions, scroll down to learn more about additional steps that should be considered or click here to learn more about conservatorship and how to make an appointment for a pre-screening.
Mental Illness
Do you have a loved one experiencing extreme mood swings? Or maybe sudden withdrawal from family and friends? Perhaps their risky or addictive behavior has increased to alarming levels? All these signs point to an individual who may be struggling with a mental illness. According to studies, in Alabama, 56% of family members are often concerned about a loved one's physical well being and 50% are concerned about their mental well-being. Individuals with mental illness may also struggle with other challenges such as:
• Depression
• Anxiety
• PTSD
• Bipolar disorder
• ADHD
• And much more
If you or a loved one is struggling with mental illness, and is unable to make or communicate decisions, scroll down to learn more about additional steps that should be considered or click here to learn more about conservatorship and how to make an appointment for a pre-screening.
Next steps
Throughout this article, we have discussed warning signs that merit considering the protection of a conservatorship. But some steps you may be able to take before considering a conservatorship include increased family involvement, intervention, and meeting with your loved one's health care provider to address potential updates to their treatment plan. However, if you feel as though this loved one might need additional help, at Life Care Wellness, we offer a prescreening option that allows loved ones to meet with licensed therapists and social workers to determine whether or not they would qualify for a conservatorship.
Why a conservatorship?
Patients who qualify for conservatorship are usually unable to make or communicate responsible decisions due to mental illness, mental deficiency, physical illness or disability, physical or mental infirmity, and/or chronic drug use or intoxication. This can result in harm to others, harm to themselves, bankruptcy, repeat hospitalizations, incarceration, and a lower quality of life. Lifecare Wellness offers a prescreening option that gives families a professional assessment by licensed therapists and social workers to determine whether or not they would qualify for a conservatorship. While considering a conservatorship for a loved one can be daunting, we are staffed to guide the journey for families with our conservatorship management service, which includes shepherding the legal process, and with letters of conservatorship:
• Creating a monthly budget
• Paying bills
• Paying for care
• Report on finances in the court
• And much more
For more information about conservatorships, check out our blogs by clicking here. To make an appointment today, click here.
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