My husbands grandmother (93yo) has congestive heart failure, and has hospice palliative care to check on her 2 days a week. She had a fall that bruised her knee pretty good, and thankfully no fractures. She was able to get around minimally before this, but now needs 24 hour care and can't walk. She has 2 people that are caring for her that can barely help themselves, but she bullies them and makes them feel bad if they say they can't help. And only pays them $5 to 7 per hour. She has financial freedom to hire 24hr professional care but refuses to pay more than $10 per hour. We found a private care place that will take her immediately, but of course she refuses to leave her home. She is verbally abusive to all but 1 person that helps her. She has had some mental decline in the last few weeks, she had an episode where she did not recognize her daughter in law for a few minutes. My husband has durable poa, medical and financial poa...he has some support from social worker, but it seems all they say is she needs 24 hr care and of we can't provide it somehow they need to call APS (we live 5 hrs away) we have given her options but refuses to move and spend money.... what can be done?
I honestly would feel as helpless as you do. It is very difficult when you are 5 hours away, as well. And then add on Covid-times. Your hubby can either place her against her will taking the chance they will deem her competent and move her home at her request, or take this route. I can't figure another.
I have strong feelings about social workers, and refused to allow 2 of them to come after they became aggressive. One insisted on seeing financial data so she could "recommend" an appropriate placement or solution. I told her my father's financial situation was none of her business and she would NEVER get access to it. She just couldn't accept that I handled that and didn't need her meddling.
Another took a similar position, but couldn't tell me anything that I didn't already know. We'd already been advised of options; I didn't need to hear them a second time.
Is your father a Veteran, and if so, is he enrolled with the VA? From my experience, their social workers are much more adaptable and compassionate.
What I would do is play along with the social worker; get her to find some local places but don't tell her you're pursuing your own goals.
Others have dealt with the issue of a parent not wanting to move; sometimes it's an intractable issue, and I do understand a parent's position on that.
If she's threatened by a social worker, that would only exacerbate the situation. Is there a way though that you can leverage the SW's position, and explain to your MIL that you and your husband could lose care of her, and/or that she could lose all of her independence? Or that she might end up someplace that wasn't suitable? I don't like to scare people, but sometimes a little bit of it could prompt some to consider alternatives.
Do you think that taking her to see care facilities might help? Unfortunately, that's not as easy as it could be given the pandemic.
I don't really have good solutions but just wanted to offer some support.