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littlefish · 07-30-2009, 12:22 AM

I am a conservator and guardian for a mentally ill brother who lives in the US. I don't live there and this situation has been problematic.

I agreed in the court proceedings in 2006 that I would find proxy Guardians for my brother due to my living abroad but the first two quit because they did not feel qualified to care for a double diagnose: my brother is also a chronic alcoholic.

I have struggled with my own alcoholism during all of this and became sober one year ago, but have had relapses and my own condition is fragile.

So I find myself dealing with this situation while struggling to hold my own sobriety. I booked my tickets yesterday and feel hugely stressed about this.

For anyone on this particular forum related to mental health, I have some questions.

It is my understanding that only a court will decide institutionalizing. Is this the case? Or, can I as a C/G have my brother committed to a mental institution? I don't really want to do that, but he is in such a bad state of self neglect, I really wonder if he needs that.

The county Adult Protective services has had a lot of contact with him during the last 6 years, he has been an on and off client. He has also been assigned to a private agency that had care for him for about a year. They chose a very inappropriate care program for him so I took over the C/G 3 years ago. During this time another brother took care of him for a year but was unable to continue the care due to his own health problems. And he is an alcoholic too.

Essentially it has come to an impossible situation where my mentally ill brother has had his VA check withdrawn because he was not complying with basic requirements such as having a phone.

Well, I am really stressing about this and would appreciate any advice I can get about this.

Oh, and I also have a qeustion about intervention. Does anyone have any experience with this?

07-30-2009, 12:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
littlefish Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,216	I need feedback... I am a conservator and guardian for a mentally ill brother who lives in the US. I don't live there and this situation has been problematic. I agreed in the court proceedings in 2006 that I would find proxy Guardians for my brother due to my living abroad but the first two quit because they did not feel qualified to care for a double diagnose: my brother is also a chronic alcoholic. I have struggled with my own alcoholism during all of this and became sober one year ago, but have had relapses and my own condition is fragile. So I find myself dealing with this situation while struggling to hold my own sobriety. I booked my tickets yesterday and feel hugely stressed about this. For anyone on this particular forum related to mental health, I have some questions. It is my understanding that only a court will decide institutionalizing. Is this the case? Or, can I as a C/G have my brother committed to a mental institution? I don't really want to do that, but he is in such a bad state of self neglect, I really wonder if he needs that. The county Adult Protective services has had a lot of contact with him during the last 6 years, he has been an on and off client. He has also been assigned to a private agency that had care for him for about a year. They chose a very inappropriate care program for him so I took over the C/G 3 years ago. During this time another brother took care of him for a year but was unable to continue the care due to his own health problems. And he is an alcoholic too. Essentially it has come to an impossible situation where my mentally ill brother has had his VA check withdrawn because he was not complying with basic requirements such as having a phone. Well, I am really stressing about this and would appreciate any advice I can get about this. Oh, and I also have a qeustion about intervention. Does anyone have any experience with this?