My father was 'committed' and taken away to a psychiatric hospital last night. What does this mean?

In My Humble Opinion
1

My father has been melting down over the past year. Probably longer but 2012 he went off into la-la land. I think 1 or 2 people on the board know this already, but he posted here awhile. Angered or irritated alot of people and was eventually banned. Briefly got me banned because he lives here and I guess the Moderator just banned the IP.

Anyways from his posts anyone could probably tell that he was into typical conspiracy theory stuff. Alex Jones, Truthers, hatred of fractional reserve banking, Nibiru etc etc. But it escalated. Started with constant email to family members to “watch this video”. Then phone calls urging them to cash in their savings and flee the country. Then phone calls at all hours with the crisis of the moment getting more and more dire and always “in a matter of days”. Then actual screaming anger that they didn’t follow his instructions. And the past 2-3 months him watching this stuff on a loop on the computer from early a.m till dawn again sometimes

Monday I get a phone call from my retired great-uncle telling me of the bizarre phone calls they had been getting that day. A few minutes later another from a different aunt. Go to the house and bizarre writings posted all over. Symbols. words written over and over. Nonsense gibberish. Sorta like trying to hold a conversation with him lately. Angry, cursing. I call a few relatives and say we need to at least get him to a place to be evaluated a few days. So im sort of looking around his stuff before we get in the car and find more lists. “Pack a go bag” “withdraw all money” “apply for passport” “all hell gonna break loose”. Writing large checks to all sorts of unknown individuals. I ask him about the checks, he says “its all gonna be worthless in a few days, it doesn’t matter” He handed me an envelope and said “read while I go lie down” It was just more gibberesh. Random words, symbols. More words with exclamation points. There were instructions for me to make sense of it then place a copy in everyones mailbox before it’s too late.

We get him admitted to the psych ward of the local hospital. They say they usually evaluate 3-5 days then make a recommendation. Yesterday I spoke to his counselor and long story short she said he sounded deluded, manic and possible psychotic. I gave her the stack of his writings to look over. Conversation was more in depth but i’m trying to not make this post a novel.

I go back today for an update and she tells me they sent him to another place better able to deal with this. Last night at 3am he entered another patients room and was threatening, aggressive, ranting. I was sorta shocked and sorta not. I had been doubting if my decision to have him evaluated a few days was correct. I had been asking myself if i’m punishing my dad for being eccentric.

I ask can he sign himself out? whats the deal? She says “No, he was actually committed on Dr’s order and cannot just sign out and may need to see a judge to approve it” But didn’t really give me much more info.

I’m going to where he was transferred tomorrow to try to see whoever is in charge, his doctor, his nurse, his counselor whatever. To know whats going on. Since I admitted him and provided my contact number i’m kinda surprised I didn’t get a phone call when they shipped him off there. Not that I disagree with the decision, but it felt wrong to just show up and be told he was sent to the real mental hospital.

I’m not even sure what i’m asking I guess. I suppose i’ll find everything out when I can meet with someone. I’m going there tomorrow afternoon. I’m just stressed and can’t sleep and concerned that my dad underneath whatever is wrong with him is suffering, thinking he’s been abandoned. He also has his own bills and if he’s there a few months, at first I thought i’d just pay his bills from his account. I have his checks. But then I thought No, that may be technically forgery even if its for his own bills, so maybe I need to see a lawyer?

Anyone ever been here?

2

I guess what i’m asking is how serious is it to be committed by the hospital doctor? Based on what I’ve described does it sound like a few weeks then meds? I know medical advice is frowned on at SDMB. I’m wondering if i’m overreacting. Maybe this sort of thing is common and someone will say “been there, done that, make sure they take meds and it’ll be over in a few weeks” Or if I need to prepare for a life change and see a lawyer and get power of attorney or something?

3

The answer will vary by location, so I heartily recommend that you indicate your country and (if relevant) State or Province.

In Spain getting someone hospitalized against their will requires a judge’s order declaring the person “non compos mentis”, “mentally incapable”, incapable of making his own decisions. The court will also design someone to make decisions for that person; if possible, a close relative (in the case above it sounds like it could be you or your uncle); if not, a court officer. But like I said this varies by location.

4

The OP’s state is in his user profile - it’s Atlanta. Quintas, I hope someone is able to point you towards some useful websites or helplines so that you can get some good advice.

5

Sorry, the OP’s state is Georgia if he lives in the city of Atlanta!

6

Ah indeed it does. I’m actually about 2 hours north of Atlanta now, in S. Carolina. I guess I haven’t checked my profile since G.W Bush’s first term.

7

You may feel guilty, but you did the right thing. You helped your dad.

When going to the hospital the next time, hand them a list of persons to notify if anything changes. Or just one person, (you?) and arrange for a telephone or e-mail ring so that people on the list inform each other.

For all you other questions, as the doc for the info of a social worker who can help you with the emotional and practical stuff, or refer you to other people who can. This happens all the time so they will have printed out information and checklists about it.

8

I don’t know the answers to your questions, but I wanted to post and say that years ago a friend of mine was committed in the way you describe. His mother had people from the State Hospital actually come to the house, go in his bedroom, and take him away. He was about 25, I think. He told me all about it after he got treatment, and was put on meds, which he continued to take faithfully. He was grateful for her intervention and felt it saved his life. At the time, many of his friends noticed that he was more than just “quirky,” but was headed for the deep end. I still have some stuff he wrote to me back then.

Anyway, this might turn out to be a turning point for the better. I hope so, for him, you, and the family. It’s a tough situation.

9

People can be committed for all sorts of reasons and lengths of time if they are a potential danger to themselves or others, so it’s hard to say how long they intend to keep him. I can pretty much guarantee he won’t be going anywhere until he starts taking his meds.

I’m really sorry to hear you are going through this. I have a lot of mental illness in the family including a schizophrenic uncle. In my experience, people don’t just ‘‘get over’’ the kind of behavior your father is exhibiting. I’m not saying he can’t be treated, I’m just saying it’s probably going to be a long and arduous process to get him stable.

Before seeking a POA I would suggest waiting to hear from the doctor about his diagnosis and prognosis. However, if I were you I would brace yourself for the worst. Set up a support network for both your father and yourself ASAP. Social support is one of the most critical things in treating any mental illness.

10

I think the definition of “danger to self or society” is what is key here.
It sounds like he might be both.
In which case, you most certainly did the right thing.

Chances are there might be something physically wrong with him, or at least something that might be helped with medication. Hopefully he can be diagnosed and treated and return home and become the man you used to know.

11

Can you afford to pay his bills out of your account for a while? (They’ll happily take money from anyone, doesn’t have to be the account holder.)

12

What a difficult time for you! I have no words of advice, but sending out supporting thoughts.

IMO, you did the right thing.

13

IANAL, but my father told me when he took over my grandmother’s affairs (she was suffering from senile dementia, not schizophrenia, but I don’t think it matters) that if one pays any bills for someone who is declared incompetent, it is possible that then one can be liable for all the other bills as well. This was not in S. Carolina, and I have no idea if it is true in our state, but as usual I recommend talking to a lawyer who knows about dealing with vulnerable adults.

My prayers for your strength and your father’s recovery.

Regards,
Shodan

14

Speaking as a guy on pills for several mental problems, I think you did the right thing.

If your father truly believes that some imminent crisis will render the dollar worthless AND he’s writing out large checks, he’s clearly unable to take care of his finances. If he was committed involuntarily (and it sounds like he was), then a shrink has judged your father to be a threat to himself or others. I’d like to know whether you agree with that assessment.

My advice is to make it clear to your father that while you love him very much, you agree that he is sick and needs help. If you can, learn his diagnosis and study up on it. Learn what medications he’s on (he’ll almost certainly be prescribed meds) and study up on those as well. Wikipedia is excellent for learning about psychiatric meds.

15

Being “committed” doesn’t mean he’s put into a locked room and left to rot.

It USED to work that way.

A person can legally be held for an evaluation period (72 hours, IIRC) if determined to be a threat to himself or others. And you need more documentation than just the janitor on the ward.

After that, further “commitment” has to be a LEGAL process, complete with a judge, to insure that his civil rights are respected. The court will probably appoint an attorney for him.

Ideally, the doctors will convince him to stay for the help he needs.

There should be social workers at the hospital to provide you with information and direction.

If your father has his own income (retirement, etc) and cannot handle his own affairs, check with the county services in his county of residence. There should be some form of Public Guardian who will help with that.

This is a trial for the whole family, and I hope it gets better for ALL of you soon!
~VOW

16

Not a doctor or lawyer, but I’ve had to deal with this–both from a family member’s commitment, and in the legal department of a hospital. In this state you put the patient in for a 72-hour hold–a doctor has to sign off on it, and they’re pretty careful about that. This is an observation period, but of course the patient may be treated. Or the patient may be moved to a more appropriate facility, which it sounds like is what happened.

I think once the doctor has signed off, a doctor has to sign off to let him out, but there is a time limit. This is a guess, but it could be that the 72-hour time limit restarted when he was sent to a new facility. No doctor can just consign someone to a psychiatric hospital for an unknown duration without some kind of a hearing (in this state, and probably in all states) but the time frame could vary. You should be notified if that happens. It is usually a pretty informal hearing in front of a judge or magistrate, but it’s a legal proceeding and you should be prepared.

Declaring him incompetent is, I think, a separate legal procedure, tied to but not part of the commitment hearing.

What is likely is that the hospital will work on getting him stabilized, which could involve various medications. In the case of some of my family members, this took awhile (they were bipolar so the trick was to get them on an even keel without being either too depressed or too hyper, and minimizing side effects). Took months, and the meds have to be monitored and periodically adjusted, apparently forever. (This is my family’s case. Patients can be stabilized and then weaned off meds, but you might as well prepare yourself for the possibility that he will have to take them for the rest of his life.)

As for paying his bills, I’ve heard the same as Shodan about the possibility of the debt migrating to whoever pays it. Not all the bills, but the ones you paid. So the cable company is probably okay, because if they decide to stick you with the bills in perpetuity you can disconnect. Paying the hospital out of your own funds is a really bad idea, likewise the house payment.

There is also something niggling at my mind about commingling funds (his and yours). Don’t do it. You need to check with a lawyer for money questions. Maybe a social worker at the facility could point you in the right direction.

It’s a hard thing to do to a family member, but you did the right thing. Don’t feel guilty and don’t let your dad make you feel guilty! Once he’s back in his right mind, hopefully soon, he should realize you did the only thing you could, and it was for the best.

17

If his mental competence is in question (and if he’s been involuntarily committed it has been) then he really does need someone trustworthy with power of attorney to look out for his interests and act in his stead when he is unable to do so. Such as now.

Yes, talk to a lawyer. Someone may need to go before a judge to get this clarified (doesn’t have to be you, but someone needs to be the point person) and they need to do this soon, before he loses his home/stuff/money and/or is taken advantage of by unsavory sorts.

It will probably be difficult to play that role for your uncle, whoever is chosen. My condolences on this matter, mental issues are very difficult to deal with and society in general is no help in coping.

18

Good luck. I agree with the others who have said to seek legal advice before you pay anything out of your own funds. Actually you may not be able to pay from your father’s funds either unless you have power of attorney. Also, assuming that at some point the hospital is going to release him, you should also get advice about accepting him into your care.

19

With regard to the bill paying aspects, have you tried contacting Adult Protective Services in your community? Even if they can’t help you, my experience with them tells me they can certainly point you in the right direction.

I’m so sorry that you and your family have to go through this. You all have my best wishes for peace and tranquility.

20

Agree with others about the 72 hour involuntary hold, but if they want him held longer, a judge must approve. Hope this helps: South Carolina Mental Health Quick Guide

I’m not sure how old your dad is, but could it possibly be Alzheimer’s/dementia?