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Long term partner has been admitted into psychiatric care as he is a severe risk to himself, and I feel like I don’t know what I’m allowed to do?

iridiumhopefulNew Contributor22 Feb 2025, 12:51 pm AEDT

Long term partner has been admitted into psychiatric care as he is a severe risk to himself, and I feel like I don’t know what I’m allowed to do?

I haven’t been given much guidance from the hospital staff about what support I should be providing, what I am and am not allowed to bring him and how often I should be visiting?

The first facility he was in was an acute ward, and they were very open and communicative about what I can and can’t bring in like getting him his favourite drink or snack, but the new facility is meant for longer term care and every question I ask feels like I’m inconveniencing them for asking, and that I should know the answer? Like I asked if I could bring him in his switch and they were like yes? Why are you asking? But then I brought him a coffee (which I was encouraged to do at the last facility) and they had to get it approved by 2 nurses and a doctor?

should I be visiting him every day? Should I be limiting it only an hour or so? Should I be the one encouraging him to eat, or should i leave that up to the nurses? Should I be forceful in encouraging him to bathe and take care of himself, or should I let him be how he wants to be to demonstrate to the staff how bad he is? I just don’t know and I have no idea how to find out

3 replies

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In response to: Long term partner has been admitted into psychiatric care as he is a severe risk to himself, and I feel like I don’t know what I’m allowed to do?

tymeModerator22 Feb 2025, 1:22 pm AEDT

Re: Long term partner has been admitted into psychiatric care as he is a severe risk to himself, and I feel like I don’t know what I’m allowed to do?

Sorry to hear @iridiumhopeful .

I hope you find the Community's insights helpful. You are not alone.

In response to: Long term partner has been admitted into psychiatric care as he is a severe risk to himself, and I feel like I don’t know what I’m allowed to do?

tymeModerator22 Feb 2025, 1:45 pm AEDT

Re: Long term partner has been admitted into psychiatric care as he is a severe risk to himself, and I feel like I don’t know what I’m allowed to do?

To be honest, from your above post, it sounds like you have to ask what that specific service allows and doesn't allow @iridiumhopeful I've only ever been in acute care inpatient, so we pretty much weren't allowed anything...

Do they have a brochure you can read?

In response to: Long term partner has been admitted into psychiatric care as he is a severe risk to himself, and I feel like I don’t know what I’m allowed to do?

Kermit7New Contributor19 Mar 2025, 6:42 am AEDT

Re: Long term partner has been admitted into psychiatric care as he is a severe risk to himself, and I feel like I don’t know what I’m allowed to do?

Hello,

I have been in your situation.

You sound like you have already been through too much, as I believe you've very sensibly and insightfully answered your own questions, to a large extent.

Of course every facility, every patient/client a d every carer is different but this is what I have experienced and what I think to be pretty good 'guidelines' when you are caring for someone receiving care & treatment in a facility:

Definitely follow each facilities rules and their Dr instructions as to what's 'best', but in terms of your specific questions, which I believe you've largely answered, I would recommend that your visit days and length of visits actually be guided by what suits YOU.

I would not be visiting every day, and I would not be taking something in (like chocolate, socks, whatever....& let them/staff get their own coffee, or go without if they have to.) every time you visit. Given I've been doing 'this' for over 20 years, I now know how important it is for the person who is receiving treatment to know that YOU ARE BUSY and YOU have a life too! Life cannot completely revolve around them.

I would implore you to see their time 'inside' as time for you to take a break from Caring.... Let staff do that. And let the patient do that! It's hard to stop caring for a while, but crucial to all involved, particularly YOU.

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