Can You ‘Force’ Someone into Assisted Living in Mobile AL?

April 7, 2014 by ·

It’s not a situation that you want to even think about, but when you’re concerned about the safety and well-being of an elderly loved one living alone, then you might be wondering what recourse you may have in order to force them to move, into assisted living, for example.Assisted Living Mobile AL

Let’s paint the picture here so that we’re clear on the short and long term ramifications about what we’re talking about.

You have received calls from your mother’s neighbors more frequently during the past several months.  One time she forgot about soup cooking on the stove and started a small fire.  Fortunately, the neighbor was able to help put it out quickly.  Another time, your mother was outside in her thin bathrobe trying to get back in after locking herself out while searching for the cat (she hasn’t owned a cat in years), and this was in the middle of a brutally cold winter night.

There are plenty of reasons why you may feel as though your mother simply isn’t safe within her own home any longer.  If you have talked to her about the prospect of moving to an assisted living facility but she has flat out refused to move, and you’re concerned about her health and safety at home, what kind of recourse do you have to force her to move?

Essentially, the road to forcing an elderly resident from his or her home and into assisted living is a long and expensive process.  It’s so long, in fact, that few family members even try to go through this scenario.

It would require that you hire a lawyer and go through the legal process.  However, most judges are disinclined to want to remove an independent person’s rights to make decisions about their own care.  You could also contact social services and tell them that you believe your mother is a risk to herself or to others, and while they may go to your mother’s house to investigate, few seniors would even allow these types of workers into their homes to conduct their investigators.  Without any type of court order, these workers would need permission from your mother to enter.

Even if seniors don’t make the best decisions, the courts will do everything in their power to ensure that their rights are not taken away from them.  If you’re concerned about your mother’s health, safety, and well-being in her home and believe that she should be in an assisted living facility, contact a facility near her and gather as much information about what they offer and what it’s like to live there before approaching and discussing it with your mother.  The more information that you have, the easier it will be for you to convince her that it’s the best decision for her own care.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Assisted Living, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living  in Mobile AL,  at 251-317-3017.  

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About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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