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I'm 29 she got court ordered into the psych ward. I being her only available daughter to help her would like some advice for being new to this. I'm on government assistance, very limited funds of my own. She needs a guardian. She has enablers and is acting wreckless, putting herself in danger, not taking care of things like she should. She is also violent and domineering, emotionally dangerous, with a history of abuse on me and others, as well as a criminal record. Every professional is trying to work with her and knows about her. She is very difficult. We are not speaking for my own safety. I'm trying to do things in the background to help but unsure what should I do.

Allow the courts to assign her a third party legal guardian. Do not do it yourself. Even if you become her guardian you will NOT be able to force an uncooperative adult to do something against their will. You will need to keep reporting her or calling 911 so they can Baker Act her (5150) until social services recommend her for a guardian. We cannot know what kind of timeline this will require.

If you live with her you may wish to consider couch surfing with a relative or friend, or going to a women's shelter to protect your own mental health.

You didn't cause her problem and you won't be able to fix it. Make protecting yourself a priority so that you have some hope to have a decent life. The only solution is for the courts to assign her a guardian. Be patient and don't inject yourself into this situation -- they need to see how bad it is. If you help her, you will delay her solution.
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Reply to Geaton777
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Please do not accept guardianship or powers of attorney. She needs a professional to oversee her care. If you decline to accept responsibility they'll have to find a professional to do it. It's what's best for BOTH of you.
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Reply to Slartibartfast
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Run fast, run far. Let the state do it all. Concentrate on your own life and retirement.
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Reply to JustAnon
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I honestly do not think YOU should take this on.
Let the Court appoint a Guardian.
Yes this will take some control away from you but in the long run that may be best. You are far to young to take this on for 10, 15, 20 years. Sure she may not need a Guardian for that length of time but what if she does. That is a lot to ask of you at this point in YOUR life.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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You already know that she is - unfixable - at this point.

Very, VERY few people get court ordered into a psych facility. If it has gotten so far as merit to court intervention, then you want nothing at all to do with her care going forward.

Do NOT take on guardianship; it will be an absolute nightmare for you! Don't let ANYONE talk you into it; tell any and all who mention it that you are in poor physical health, have limited funds, and mom as abusive and violent with you for years. The State in which she lives will have more ways and means to assist mom than you ever will.

It is no shame to walk away from this scenario. It doesn't make you an evil person. Don't let some misguided emotions about "family" make your decisions for you; you know that you can't - and shouldn't - get involved with this, and that's OK!
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Reply to notgoodenough
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No no no no no. Do NOT attempt to fix this for her. Do yourself a big favor and read through this forum so you can see what happens in these cases. It is never good for the caretaker, and it is also usually never good for the patient. If you are not speaking for your own safety, that is the answer. You should not do this, and it will end badly for you. There's not much you could do anyway, especially if she is uncooperative, let alone violent. Let the state handle this, and you focus on taking care of yourself after such a difficult upbringing. Even when people are relatively cooperative, it is still very difficult to take care of another person and take care of yourself. In this case especially this is a terrible idea.
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Reply to SamTheManager
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No one should take care of a person who’s abused them, ever, no matter the circumstances. You don’t need or deserve this. Let the county or state or others care for her. Protect yourself
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Reply to Daughterof1930
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MG8522 Feb 18, 2026
Good point, that is absolutely true.
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Don't accept this responsibility. You could get caught up in trouble that you can't afford, despite your best intentions. Tell whoever is handling her care in the psych ward that you are not able to handle her -- because really, you can't, no lay person can -- and the courts will have to take over, whether through a legal guardian or institutionalizing her. I'm sorry you've grown up in this situation. Focus on improving your own situation. I wish you well, and I wish you peace. Let us know how it goes.
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Reply to MG8522
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Walk away right now. You are on assistance yourself. There is no way you can provide for her. She needs a Medicaid home overseen by a state guardian.
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Reply to PeggySue2020
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