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Posted 2/9/2010 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
A friend of mine took in a young man that had bounced from foster home to foster home.  She took care of him from age 16-19.  He is now 27.

When he moved out, he go into alot of trouble with drugs and alcohol.

He made his way down here to Florida, called me up (as my friend gave him my number) and I do know him, spending time at my friends house when he was a teen.

Anyway, I pick him up at the bus station for what I thought was a "visit".

I now learn he has been diag. with Bi-Polar and Paranoid Schizophrenia. This was 3.5 yrs ago and he is on SSI or SSD one of the two.

 

He will not take meds, paranoid of the side effects.

 

He is a nice kid, my heart breaks, but this is waaayyyy more than I can personally handle.  Where he just came here, he is not considered a resident, and you have to go through alot to even get a State ID...to even try and get services.

 

I cannot have him live here...I am a nervous wreck.

 

I want to help...But I cannot handle him here, nor can I force him to take meds.  It has been suggested that we try and get him Baker Acted, as here where we live, once that has been done, they cannot kick a person into the streets with no home.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

Posted 2/9/2010 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
1Bitten,

Untreated bipolar and schizophrenia can be absolutely debilitating and really difficult to manage for everyone. Unless he is a danger to himself or others, you won't be able to have him admitted. Even then, it's usually only for 72 hours, and he will RESENT it. So I don't think that's the solution to your troubles. You need to be honest with him: you want to help but he can't live there. Contact the local mental health clinic and ask what services are available to non-residents. Ask about rooming houses or housing assistance. In the meantime, really URGE him to see a psychiatrist. He needs to be back in treatment and seen by somebody, even if he doesn't take his meds. The local mental health clinic can usually offer services on a sliding pay scale.

Good luck!
serafena
Posted 2/9/2010 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the reply.

He did want to see someone. My daughter who worked for 5 yrs in an Assisted Living facility for the mentally ill made some calls to contacts she had.

They did say they "could" Baker Act him for not being on meds and homeless. They are going to try all they can to do so, that way he will have a safe place to stay, people to monitor his meds, as well as get him back on the correct meds. He has none with him. Here in Florida, they cannot turn you out after being kept for 72 hrs if you are homeless AND diag. with a mental illness. They have to find you a state run facility to place you in.

The State however, will not offer any type of walk in services to just anyone without being a resident. It really stinks and is a miserable catch 22.

I do know that he told us last night that he has suicidal thoughts as well as he has been hearing voices.  He has not been on meds now for about 1 year.  Illegal drugs yes.

I was very afraid by telling him he could not stay here that it would trip something in his mind and set him off. I was/am very worried for his safety as well as my family. As well as we are having a cold spell here and sunny Florida is not so warm and sunny for the balance of this week, so I could not even imgaine him being on the streets!

Posted 2/9/2010 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
Pulled strings, got him seen. By then he is talking about being God, and I knew this was the right choice.

However, after the Dr. worked so hard and got him a place and meds ect he refused. Cannot make him go. Was not BA'd as he was not a "harm to himself or others at that point".

Dr. made it very clear he could not come back here. I do not know where he is now.

I am very sad, and relieved at the same time.

Thank you again for the help.
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