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Mom has Alzheimer’s, we were told by nurse she has had perfect behavior with no incidents , but they were going to diagnose her as bipolar. My mom definitely is not bipolar, never witnessed any mood swings. We are trying to figure out how to refuse treatment.

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She is in a psych ward which means there is a problem. What behavior brought her there? Who is her guardian? Not POA here. POA cares for finances.
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Reply to MACinCT
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You say your Mom has ALZ but it doesn't seem she has an actual diagnosis, it's just your opinion at this point.

If no one is her PoA or Medical Representative then it's true, they don't have to divulge anything to you, regardless that you are family.

DId they test her for a UTI?

Does she live with you, or on her own?

If the psychiatrist treats her based upon the symptoms s/he sees, then this will help her, so why would you try to block this treatment? Does it matter whether the meds address her anxiety/agitation/whatever due to ALZ or BD? What did she do that landed her in the psych ward?
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Reply to Geaton777
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A) A nurse would have/should have never told you the diagnosis. If your Mom IS in good shape she should sue the hospital for breach of HIPAA privacy laws. I think you may have been talking to a psych patient there, and not a nurse, because I never heard of a nurse being that stupid. Moreover, I cannot believe a trained nurse would say "she has perfect behavior and no incidents". That isn't even objective reporting; it sounds insane. A nurse may say she is stable. Or recommend you speak with an MD. A nurse may tell you if she was transported to a psychiatric unit and who was informed of said transfer.

B) Who is the POA here? Who has an advance directive document appointing them as the person to be "informed"? Who is the next of kin? Who found out mother was hospitalized? Who has visited mother in hospital? Does mother give her permission for ONE PERSON who will be informed? And who is that person? In other words WHO IS MANAGING MOTHER'S CARE now she has dementia?

C) Does the POA/next of kin have the name of the diagnosing Neuro Psychiatric physician who diagnosed your mother with bipolar disorder?

D) How well informed are you about LOBD (late onset bipolar disease after age 60, which constitutes 25% of those recently diagnosed.)
This from the internet:
" Late-onset bipolar disorder (LOBD) typically occurs when a person is over the age of 50 years12. Research suggests that older adults with bipolar disorder may experience:
More frequent episodes
More depressive episodes and less time spent in manic or hypomanic states
Less severe manic symptoms and fewer psychotic features with mania
New symptoms, such as irritability and poor cognition
Lower risk of suicide, although this may be due to survivorship bias"

Often the only way to diagnose the many manifestations of bipolar is to understand whether or not Lithium works (some think we should add it to our water supplies! That's how effective it can be).

Your mother has dementia you tell us. Are you CERTAIN that is the case? LOBD (Late onset bipolar disease) is sometimes mistakenly diagnosed as dementia.

So step one here, for you, is to find out who the medical/general POA is for mother (or guardian or conservator) so that someone can get information from her physician.
There is certainly nothing that we here on Forum can do to help you but say "so sorry to hear this". You must get informed. Do update us. You present us with a fascinating thread here.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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The Neurologist said that about My Father yet I did not agree . Get a second Opinion or third opinion .
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Reply to KNance72
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Any update CasaSaca from the MD. I am curious to know what's going on in this interesting and complex case.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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I don't understand what "behaviour" has to do with anything. A person who has cognitive impairment and acts in an erratic or unreasonable manner isn't "badly behaved": they are affected by their disorder.
Similarly, a dementia patient who is calm and compliant isn't well behaved: they are fortunate to not be distressed or agitated.
Furthermore, I don't see what this has to do with a diagnosis of a mental health disorder.
I am very surprised at a modern day health professional using such judgemental and loaded language.
Are there any implications connected to a diagnosis of bipolar that worry you?
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Reply to MiaMoor
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I think there is a form, which she may have signed, giving the hospital permission to share details of her condition with certain family members, or medical providers. She may not have wanted her condition discussed with you.

You don't say why she was admitted to psych ward. Probably an undesirable behavior led to this. I would let the psych doctors do their assessment and try to find a suitable medication to calm erratic behaviors or troubling emotions of the patient. That may be a medication which is commonly used to treat bipolar, but can have other indications.
Has she been diagnosed by a doctor with alzheimers? Provide the hospital with all her medical records, and let the doctors share information. They can do a much better job, knowing her medical history and all medications, including non-prescribed, such as supplements, or if she uses alcohol or illicit drugs.
Again, your mother would have had to agree to allow her medical records to be shared. And, unless you are her medical representative, the Doctor is not obligated to tell you anything.
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Reply to CaringWifeAZ
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Do you have a right to know? Legally, that is.

Edit: If this doesn't link all the way for you, copy & paste into your browser bar.

Read this: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/faq/3000/does-having-health-care-power-attorney-allow-access-patients-medical-mental-health-records-under-hipaa/index.html#:~:text=HIPAA%20provides%20a%20personal%20representative,apply%20to%20a%20personal%20representative.
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Reply to Sha1911
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Nuses should stick to NURSING! NO DIAGNOSES !!
AND.....It's odd to me that the dr doesn't want to speak to family to evaluate.
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Reply to Pyrite
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If your mom signed a document to not disclose her condition to you, that wouldn't be applicable since she isn't able to make her own decisions based on her mental capacity. I don't buy it. I strongly suggest you go above the doctor. Reach out to whoever is in charge. You may need an Elder Attorney.
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Reply to Onlychild2024
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Talk with administrator. Ask him/her why.
However, if she was admitted with Alz diagnosis, I believe her signature would not be legally authorized. The part about not returning phone calls seems off.

Contact an attorney immediately. I would also consider contacting:
* licensing board of this facility.
* Umbudsman

Gena / Touch Matters
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Reply to TouchMatters
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Not sure how that is, in NJ if you send a dementia patient to a crisis center they send them right back, Maybe they saw an opportunity to make money off her admission. Psychiatric admissions are confidential, they won't even confirm if someone is there if you call unless that person permit to do so.
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Reply to NJCALA
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When my mother was admitted to a psych hospital (after attempting to kill my father, turned out she had a UTI), the doctor did speak to me. Told me she was a delightful person, when they asked her if she knew where she was, she replied, "I'm in the nut house!" They diagnosed her with dementia. She did not have dementia, she had a UTI. She died within a month.

Ask for a test for UTI and make sure it is the test that takes several days for results, not the quickie test that misses infections.
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Reply to graygrammie
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Sierramikewhisk Jun 21, 2024
I absolutely 100% agree. So many people don’t understand how severely a UTI can affect an elderly person’s personality. They can change from the sweetest person ever to the most belligerent & hateful person you ever met within a day or two. It is like temporary insanity.
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Casa, I can honestly say I know nothing about this subject but it all sounds very wrong!

As for bi polar thing. I really feel like you would know. Or you would be like a light bulb moments,and be saying, oh that's what's been wrong her whole life.

You would of had some sign , unless your heads in the sand but it doesn't sound that way to me

Best of luck. I'm so sorry 😞
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Reply to Anxietynacy
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CasaSaca1: Perhaps your mother should be tested for a U.T.I.
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Reply to Llamalover47
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My mom was also admitted to a psych ward and given a mental illness diagnosis (which is correct). Even with that mom had to tell the doctors I was able to speak with them or they would refuse. The social worker was the best as she gave me far more info than I would have gotten otherwise. I had mom sign a POA (durable, not medical), and mom's current doctor speaks with me, again probably because mom told her to. Get a medical POA/HIPPA signed now. Don't wait.
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Reply to JustAnon
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Are you POA or are you listed on mom's medical HIPAA forms as a person that they can give information to?
If you are not on the HIPAA forms or you are not POA they legally can not give you any information.
If mom can sign forms then they can talk to you.
If mom is unable to then you need to see an attorney and obtain Guardianship.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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Whoever has medical POA over your mom needs to get answers.
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Reply to Taarna
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