on December the 9th, 2009 the King Co Superior court judge deemed my daughter, age 21 a probable victim of society, not a danger to self, not a danger to others, a vulnerable person that harm and exploitation may happen to in society, and though agreeing with her defense that she would not want to be returned to western state hospital after a 21 day stay in March 2006, where sexual assault was the topic--and she was discharged via my letter to the Governor per the lack of safety there--she was sentenced to the institution anyway.
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the premise of care
based on a so-called premise of long term care, my daughter was discharged from one hospital to the institution on December 21, 2009. Since her arrival to the institution she has continued to decline, stop speaking, and has in all intent and purpose, based on my observation of knowing my daughter, living with my daughter and being with my daughter her entire life through all cycles of this mental illness escapade---has given up.
i can see it. it is up to those around her to rise to the occasion and move her somewhere else. period.
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they locked her up within the system to keep her safe from society
inside the hospital, for the last week she has been in seclusion, in a room with 4 walls and a bed, the room they used the first night she was there, because she fell apart when i left. the next day the treatment team meeting gathered and told me the direct result of me (being told to leave by the doctor and staff because "your hour is up") leaving, and because she was crying, was locked up.
now the room is being used to "keep her safe" from other patients.
so the answer from this system is to take my daughter, and lock her in a room, leave her alone and lock her in side rooms hoping she will draw or color, she has had no outside time, she cannot go outside without a special permission from the "team", each day i ask about it they pass the buck, and today was the first day i met the social worker who in fact told me she is quitting her job so she won't actually be able to do anything.
1. no outside time, fresh air given
2. locked away in small rooms due to safety issues from other patients
3. visitors moved quickly into side rooms to visit being told the place has violent people in it, so it's for our own safety
Is this the plan for long term care we want for my daughter? is this how the system treats everyone? is this how we care for vulnerable people like my daughter?
She has not said one word in 2 days. she has been holding onto and sleeping with as a pillow a plush stuffed dog i gave her on christmas, she has the slippers on i brought her and she appears scared, terrified. she is terrified, and for good reason. her rights have been stripped, she is in a place that was supposed to give her care and safety from the world, and the world the system created has locked her up worse.
SHE IS A CAGED PERSON.
This is unacceptable.
--
the premise of care
based on a so-called premise of long term care, my daughter was discharged from one hospital to the institution on December 21, 2009. Since her arrival to the institution she has continued to decline, stop speaking, and has in all intent and purpose, based on my observation of knowing my daughter, living with my daughter and being with my daughter her entire life through all cycles of this mental illness escapade---has given up.
i can see it. it is up to those around her to rise to the occasion and move her somewhere else. period.
--
they locked her up within the system to keep her safe from society
inside the hospital, for the last week she has been in seclusion, in a room with 4 walls and a bed, the room they used the first night she was there, because she fell apart when i left. the next day the treatment team meeting gathered and told me the direct result of me (being told to leave by the doctor and staff because "your hour is up") leaving, and because she was crying, was locked up.
now the room is being used to "keep her safe" from other patients.
so the answer from this system is to take my daughter, and lock her in a room, leave her alone and lock her in side rooms hoping she will draw or color, she has had no outside time, she cannot go outside without a special permission from the "team", each day i ask about it they pass the buck, and today was the first day i met the social worker who in fact told me she is quitting her job so she won't actually be able to do anything.
1. no outside time, fresh air given
2. locked away in small rooms due to safety issues from other patients
3. visitors moved quickly into side rooms to visit being told the place has violent people in it, so it's for our own safety
Is this the plan for long term care we want for my daughter? is this how the system treats everyone? is this how we care for vulnerable people like my daughter?
She has not said one word in 2 days. she has been holding onto and sleeping with as a pillow a plush stuffed dog i gave her on christmas, she has the slippers on i brought her and she appears scared, terrified. she is terrified, and for good reason. her rights have been stripped, she is in a place that was supposed to give her care and safety from the world, and the world the system created has locked her up worse.
SHE IS A CAGED PERSON.
This is unacceptable.
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14 comments:
I cringed when I read your post as I am a former residential student at a deaf school. CAGED PERSON is exactly how I felt and I was not "committed" or otherwise ordered to stay- I was deaf. Anyway.
I have no words of comfort to offer you except to say you do understand exactly what she is feeling. I commend you for grasping that- it is rare nowadays.
That is real love.
My daughter is profoundly deaf in one ear, same as myself. She has no way of defending herself if someone walks up behind her or when she is sleeping.
Good Lord - it's like it's run by the TSA or something.
worse, moronic idiots with their heads up their asses, while being paid. there are other words for that, but we know what they are.
PS--yes, i understand her in all ways.
They are depriving her of all the things she needs to get better - her sense of safety, a feeling that her voice matters, sunshine, fresh air, respect.
It makes me want to scream.
Crying is such an appropriate response to the horror she is experiencing, but crying is not allowed in psych hospitals. It's an indication something is wrong with the patient. It's never the treatment, which is why nothing ever changes. First, they have to acknowledge there's a problem and that they're part of it. They're not going to do that. It's much easier to say it's your daughter's issue.
This is a dilemma I faced when my son was in high school. He had been diagnosed as psychotic after his second bout with severe anorexia. There was no doubt that he required a self-contained special education class. But, because of his Emotionally Disturbed label, the only placement available to him was a BIC (Behavior Improvement Class). The other students in the class were there because of severe behavior problems: acting out, aggression, defiance, etc. I argued with the school district, without success, that they needed to create a class for kids who were emotionally disturbed, but withdrawn, those who needed a SAFE, nurturing environment, not a chaotic, threatening one. Someone needs to champion this issue!
You are right- that is unacceptable and I am so sorry it has happened to her
Galen, they broke the law if they did not accomodate your son in a public school via the IEP and least restrictive environment; I won the school district on that level, my daughter was given a classroom that fit her needs, those are legal rights---this is actually how I am basing the care my daughter needs now, the state will create a place for her within their system, if the building doesnt exist then, they will accomodate her in one that does, with all of her needs.
My daughter used to run her IEP meetings, this girl has guts and I am talking to her about this, I know she hears me.
The school district just gave me their cock and bull line that they always give: We design the IEP and then place him in a class where it can be carried out...it's not the class that's important, it's the IEP, and that can be implemented in this class. I knew our district was just going through the motions, as they always did on the high school level. Not to mention the fact that our neighborhood school is chaotic and dangerous in and of itself. So I moved him to a small charter alternative school right across the street. It wasn't perfect, but it was a big improvement. Good luck with your fight to get a safe program in another building.
Steph-I'm pissed and speechless.
I know you wont give up. Hugs and prayers.
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Stephany I can't even imagine your frustration and pain. I'm speechless. This whole thing is beyond sad and tragic. It really makes me ill.
Upon reflection, my previous comment of blaming the staff as lazy is no solution. The patients are most probably too medicated by the psychiatrists to do anything positive or negative. This drugging is for everyones safety. The individual staff person probably has had one experience of anger/violence that makes them distrust all further patients, poisoning the possibility of trust and a meaningful relationship.
Remember that the Government needs the hospital for sick persons, when your daughter improves she will be released. Freedom which is both a good thing and a fear of the unknown.
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