I have a sad situation in my family. I was wondering if there's anything we can do to try to resolve this situation. Normally, I'd crowd source something like this on Facebook, but the anonymity of the Fort, and the help I've seen for similar situations, made me decide to post here. The state this is happening in is Wisconsin.
Six years ago when my wife's Grandfather was 79, he married a woman who was 25 years younger than him. He wasn't wealthy, but certainly had enough to retire on. Through several bad business ventures and real estate deals, all of the money is gone.
He has since developed dementia that makes it hard to communicate. His wife has responded by making comments like "I didn't sign up for this." She has sent out a bunch of emails that make it sound like he's dying. These emails are exaggerations and probably represent wishful thinking - as the few times we've been able to see him, his health appears to be pretty good.
Since he got sick, his wife has become openly hostile towards the family, not responding to calls/emails unless we want to visit - when she gets right back to us and tells us we can't. She has effectively shut him off from the rest of his family. My wife was been very persistent and we were allowed to visit for a short time recently, but she has made it very clear that it'll be a long time before we're allowed in again.
He clearly hadn't been groomed/showered in a long time. He spends his days effectively isolated with no stimulation. His "caregiver" is his wife's daughter who is home with him all day. The daughter has Down syndrome and through no fault of her own is not able to effectively communicate with him (and separately, it's horrible that she's being forced to be an elderly caregiver).
The family has been very warm to my wife's grandfather's wife, and There isn't a good explanation for her insistence in isolating him from the family.
Does this qualify as elderly abuse? Does the family have any ground to stand on - he brightens up on the rare occasion that we visit and clearly recognizes us. Or, because she's his wife, does she hold all the cards.
We're concerned that if we lawyer up/get the state involved, things to get worse for him.
Appreciate any recommendations.
Thanks!
Posted from Rivals Mobile
Six years ago when my wife's Grandfather was 79, he married a woman who was 25 years younger than him. He wasn't wealthy, but certainly had enough to retire on. Through several bad business ventures and real estate deals, all of the money is gone.
He has since developed dementia that makes it hard to communicate. His wife has responded by making comments like "I didn't sign up for this." She has sent out a bunch of emails that make it sound like he's dying. These emails are exaggerations and probably represent wishful thinking - as the few times we've been able to see him, his health appears to be pretty good.
Since he got sick, his wife has become openly hostile towards the family, not responding to calls/emails unless we want to visit - when she gets right back to us and tells us we can't. She has effectively shut him off from the rest of his family. My wife was been very persistent and we were allowed to visit for a short time recently, but she has made it very clear that it'll be a long time before we're allowed in again.
He clearly hadn't been groomed/showered in a long time. He spends his days effectively isolated with no stimulation. His "caregiver" is his wife's daughter who is home with him all day. The daughter has Down syndrome and through no fault of her own is not able to effectively communicate with him (and separately, it's horrible that she's being forced to be an elderly caregiver).
The family has been very warm to my wife's grandfather's wife, and There isn't a good explanation for her insistence in isolating him from the family.
Does this qualify as elderly abuse? Does the family have any ground to stand on - he brightens up on the rare occasion that we visit and clearly recognizes us. Or, because she's his wife, does she hold all the cards.
We're concerned that if we lawyer up/get the state involved, things to get worse for him.
Appreciate any recommendations.
Thanks!
Posted from Rivals Mobile
