I was looking forward to meeting with the social worker to learn more behind the story of my parents’ visits to the hospital.
The social worker tells me my parents showed up at the Emergency Room and by the time they were seen, they couldn’t remember why they were there. They return the next day and see an Internal Medicine doctor who quickly determines something is quite off with my parents. When she tries to have a conversation with them independently and together, they are both in a confused state. They both fail a mini cognitive assessment.
The hospital was concerned about letting my parents leave. They did not want either of them behind the wheel of a car. When they ask if they have someone to call, they say yes, but can only tell them my first name and don’t have my phone number with them. They do remember my sister’s first and last name, but don’t know her phone number and don’t remember where she lives.
They consider calling Adult Protective Services. When they find out my parents have an apartment at a retirement community, they call the community. However, because my parents are in the “independent living” section, there is nothing the community can do except provide them with contact names and phone numbers for family.
My sister Kathy gets the call. She worked to get them back to their apartment and I jumped in my car to meet them there. Ineffective.