What happens if someone refuses ambulance

[Anonymous]

My elderly mom has fallen and is refusing help getting up. She does not appear to be in pain from the fall, although she is not feeling well. She is very depressed and anxious, but she is not demented. We have told her we will call an ambulance in an hour if she does not take our help. If the ambulance comes, can she refuse help or can we insist that they take her?

[Anonymous]

Don't know but think she can refuse help unless she is physically or mentally incapacitated or is a harm to herself or others.

[Anonymous]

Yes, she can refuse the ambulance. Even if you pick her up, put her in your car, and bring her to the ER, she can still refuse treatment. It is a basic patient right.

The only way you could insist on treatment is if you have medical control of her.

[Anonymous]

Did she fall because of a mini-stroke? Talk her into getting checked out.

[Anonymous]

Don't know why she fell. Social worker just told us to call 911 and stay out of the room.

[Anonymous]

Op again, my dad is afraid that she will just yell at 911 paramedics and refuse to go. We r being held hostage by her refusal to seek care.

[Anonymous]

You can call 911 and the EMTs can evaluate her at home without taking her to the hospital. Granted she can still refuse that treatment, but maybe that is a good compromise. Im surprised the social worker isnt giving you better guidance

[Anonymous]

If she's lucid and doesn't have dementia or another cognitive issue what is her exit strategy? Does she think that she'll eventually get up on her own? Rest up and let you help then? Is she suicidal?

If she refuses help they may take it as a sign that she needs evaluation for mental health care.

It's also possible that she will change her mind when theu arrive because they are authority figures.

[Anonymous]

I would go ahead and call 911 - if she tells at them, so be it. They can handle it and have seen a little of everything.
Call and let the chips fall where they will. At least you will be doing everything you can - at least everything that is within your control.

[Anonymous]

Yells, not tells ^^^^

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she's lucid and doesn't have dementia or another cognitive issue what is her exit strategy? Does she think that she'll eventually get up on her own? Rest up and let you help then? Is she suicidal?

If she refuses help they may take it as a sign that she needs evaluation for mental health care.

It's also possible that she will change her mind when theu arrive because they are authority figures.

+1 And if she starts yelling at them per your Dad, they are already trained to deal with that.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your input. Just called. Hope they can help her. Yes, she is suicidal in terms of saying she wants to die, but she is not in the sense that she has not made attempts. She refuses all medical and psychiatric care.

[Anonymous]

Glad you called them, OP. You are not alone. Lots of people are at this stage with aging parents.

[Anonymous]

Forgot to answer this question-- she keeps saying she will get up in her own, but she has been lying there since 630, trying to get up with a grab bar several times, but she cannot. 911 is here now. She is being very hostile -- will not talk to paramedics. She says she will never speak to me agAin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Forgot to answer this question-- she keeps saying she will get up in her own, but she has been lying there since 630, trying to get up with a grab bar several times, but she cannot. 911 is here now. She is being very hostile -- will not talk to paramedics. She says she will never speak to me agAin.

Sorry this has been difficult for her. But you did the right thing OP. Hang in there. Things will get better once she gets the help she needs. Hugs.