If your loved one in question is a Florida resident, you can initiate the Baker Act, which can help them get the care they need. Making the call to get the process started, though, can be overwhelming, which is why it helps to know when you should consider the Baker Act. Some warning signs that your loved one may not be able to make sound decisions because of their mental illness and may require the Baker Act include the following:.
Again, these warning signs cannot be tied to issues such as retardation, substance use disorder, or a developmental disability if you want the Baker Act enacted. In order to ensure that you are making the right decision, spend time reading the legislation regarding the Baker Act and inform yourself of the criteria that your loved one must meet.
The more information you have about the Baker Act, the more able you are to decide what your next steps should be. Do not hesitate. Call us today. Verify My Insurance What is the Baker Act? This term does not include retardation or developmental disability, intoxication, or conditions manifested only by antisocial behavior or substance abuse impairment. The Baker Act contains a variety of provisions ranging from screening to appointment of legal guardians.
However, the Baker Act is most commonly known for the involuntary evaluation and confinement provisions. The rights of a Baker Act patient are spelled out in Section They include receiving a physical exam within 24 hours of arrival at the facility sect. Recent amendments have broadened these grounds somewhat, but this is still the standard that most mental health facilities follow.
See: Section This does not mean that if a patient is examined and determined to be releasable earlier, that the patient may still be retained for 72 hours. Forms for this are usually made available to patients at the facility. They put him in the TV room. This is what we saw:. Upon entering the room we see: my son seated, completely rigid, beet red skin, every muscle tightly flexed, back arched, head thrown back, profusely sweating, eyes rolling back in his head, white foam pouring out of his mouth.
Every time he struggled to breathe, I heard gurgling sounds. He struggled so hard to get air. I held his hand and said I was there. He desperately tried to talk as white foam and agonizing groans came out of his mouth- every muscle tensed- struggling.
This is when I noticed his jaw was clenched tightly shut. He could not talk. Med tech with towel constantly wiping up white foam pouring out of his mouth. Then, as I looked at him, his right eye began to spontaneously bleed in two places, filling his eye with blood. I asked what was going on. I was told to leave. I refused to leave and insisted he get medical help because he could not even breathe. Finally, they ended up rushing him to ICU only because I insisted they help him.
They put him on a bi-pap machine to push out fluids and heavily sedated him with precedex and Ativan IV drips. He was near death. The psych floor was just letting him suffer for at least hours- waiting for him to just die. I stopped that from happening they were angry. Note: my uncle died from an overdose of OxyContin and he was found dead, with white foam pouring out of his mouth. What would have happened had we not gone to visit him and insisted we see him then insisted he get medical help?
He would be dead right now. He had little time to rest from this near death experience before he was thrown into psych, the family was cut off from him because the doctor restricted visitation and phone calls. They appointed a stranger as his medical proxy. They beat him, drugged him some more now adding Thorazine to the mix , and put him in restraints. There is so much more to this awful situation. How is this helpful for him?
It was all unnecessary since he was stable on Clozapine. The beatings and drugging. My son is finally home from the residential treatment facility. He did not receive the medical help he needed there. After discharge from the hospital he was vomiting every day, nauseous, had no peripheral vision, confused, severe fatigue, insatiable thirst and more. From u tntil he could come home How was any of that to his benefit?
The second time he was in psych, the psychiatrist wrote awful things about him, claiming he is violent. He has never been violent his entire life, even when psychotic. A NAMI advocate helped me get him out of that torture chamber. Now I have a very sick and very traumatized young man. He has gone hundreds of steps backwards and trusts no one. I would have died had that been done to me. How could any of us have that much mind-altering medication injected into our bodies and come out alive or unscathed?
How was this beneficial to my son? I have lost trust in the mental health system of FL myself. My son has received much abuse.
How can I get help for my son now? I feel for your family going through that ordeal. Is that legal? My son was Baker Act by the police department. They held him for three days even though he did not want to stay in the hospital. He does not have that kind of money. My son turn 30 this year. He lie to us all the time we notice he is a bulimia. I know he drink he lie about that. Im an adult and got baker acted when i was trying to move out of my parents house. My parents threatened to have me baker acted because i wasnt taking my medication, when they themselves prevented me from having it.
When i got outside they actually tackled me down and prevented me from leaving but i managed to get away and go to a house down the block asking if they could called the police. I told them what happened and they still baker acted me. I feel for you and the horrible experience you had. I take care of my 97 yr old aunt she is very aggressive and wants to control everything yells all the time and insults everyone. He lives alone and has been out of control With audio and visual hallucinations.
He has Tore up his house and is unable to care for himself I am afraid to go to help him as he has made threats against me. He is on SSI for his mental illness. What can I do? I have sent the police to check on him and they have done nothing. Please help.
My father is exhibiting symptoms of advanced dimentia. He misplaces things like his wallet and then accuses family member of stealing it from him. If I have him committed and declared mentally incompetent he is going to go bat shit crazy and who knows what he might do then.
There are some midway options as well. Would recommend looking up partial hospitalization program php as well as intensive outpatient programs iop. To my knowledge iop is 3days a week, php 5 days a week, both for 4hours a day doing group therapy.
Both will also have the patient seeing a psychiatrist weekly. Can a patient be held forever in a mental facility? How can that be true. Look up the Stanford Prison Experiments. Me personally, I felt more suicidal inside the mental ward than ever before. The next dirty little secret, have to avoid any mention or notion of suicide ideation. There seems to be a severe lack of distinguishment between active suicidal planning and attempts vs passive ideation. A lot of people think it will help and I hope it does for them, for me, I feel worse off than before- bit of irony eh?
The only person who will release your husband is his psychiatrist. Granted, all interactions your husband has with staff and other patients will be a factor. If you can visit him, I would recommend it. The same for calling. My friend on the outside was a literal life line of support for me.
His face changes completely, DR. I have stopped talking to him completely because no mater how nicely I ask him to shower he starts screaming an argument he had 50 years ago with somebody I never knew!!
He tried to start an electrical fire in the kitchen two days ago. I have stop talking about this hateful, mean, l dilusional 70 year old with the temper of a 5 year old. Can I call the police to have him removed and get him psychological help? I think it would be beneficial for my grand daughter to be examined.
I have sole custody She is 12, suffers with depression, has cut herself, smoke weed all the time. She sees a counselor. Please help! I was held for over 10 days at Lakeside aka Aspire in Orlando. I had been Baker Acted. I am diagnosed schizoaffective. While there I was put in isolation and restraints until I wet my pants after I complained about the food.
I wore no wrist ID band. I was bruised and manhandled by a male tech. I woke up with a female patient in bed with me at 3 a. There are no water sprinkler systems installed overhead even on the 4th floor Mercy Drive, Orlando, FL There was a young female patient who was severely autistic.
She could neither feed or shower herself. She was there for 7 days. In bone was served with lots of sauce , and a 6" napkin. This young girl wore the same food-drenched scrub top for 3 days. I have tried all channels I can think of to report these health, safety and abuse violations against Aspire Lakeside Hospital. They have gotten me no where.
The reports are ignored, the abuse and neglect continues. No one in Orlando cares about the mentally ill and homeless unless you have the money to do something to change and improve the situation. My 65 year old brother has been exhibiting signs of dementia for at least 5 years. He cannot pay bills anymore, has trouble with the tv remote, cell phone. He gets lost driving and drives a Toyota Highlander and 2 motorcycles. In a short 10 minute conversation he repeats himself constantly.??
He does not remember what you say to him 5 minutes later. In addition he drinks alcohol heavily, gets drunk, falls, is incontinent and sometimes violent. He knows he has a problem but will not see a doctor. Also his wife sits on her hands and does nothing.
I am afraid that he will drive and kill someone. Is he a candidate for the Baker Act? Dont know what to do with a adult male family member who has been Baker Acted a few times far from my family.
I would like to find him a housing facility in south florida that can house him for long term. Husband is 86 yrs old, suffering from delusions and paranoia.
He is verbal abusive and drinks alcohol. Becoming afraid for my safety. Can he be Baker acted? Hazim, but i never believed them. I was hurt and depressed so I was too curious and wanted to try Dr. My treatment was a great success, he healed me just as he promised. I waited for 3 weeks to be very sure if I was completely healed before writing this testimony.
I did another blood test one week ago and it was still Herpes negative. I live with her, and know she needs help. Have you check out the side effects or inquired if the meds have worked for her? I have been suffering from deppression for as long as i can remember but never came terms tp what it actually was when i started therapy about 3 years ago. Since then i have had 3 different therapists. The need to just leave and rid everyone of me and all the issues that I come with Seems easier.
I have tried medication Citalopram but it has only cause me to take on another mental issue: anxiety. If i baker act myself will there be any hollistic options or is it all factory Medications. Maybe surgery or something to fix my wiring kidding- not really. I made the initial comment about the surgery as a joke but I honestly would like some help , I hate feeling this way. Would recommend seeking out local support groups in your area.
Possibly also check out meetup. My mom is 64 has been abused alcohol for 30 plus years. She has lost her short term memory and was suicidal.
We Baker Acted her she was discharged with promise to stop drinking. She is asking for beer again and getting violent with my father and hitting him and grabbing scissors to threaten him. Thanks for information! Recently my stepson, 38, moved in with us from another state. Before he moved with us, he was incarcerated because of assaulting his mom. Therefore, the court had imposed a restraining order. Either he was misdiagnosed or the medications are not working. I fear for our safety.
He had been confrontational. We called the sheriff one night because Jordan was screaming relentlessly, "Help me! They said that Jordan does not meet the criteria. He must pose a threat to himself or to others. Update on earlier post dated Dec 20, my son was Baker Acted because he overdosed himself on prescribed medication and physically attack me. A sheriff acted decisively. We are anxiously waiting if he is finally getting help, that is, reevaluate his mental illness.
Can the police question someone that is picked up under the baker act? Baker act is specifically for harm to self or others. For Florida there is something called the Marchman act that is different. My son is in Ny state, homeless, been hospitalized 3 times in 3 weeks for acute intoxication…bac was.
Today same scenario…drunk in public.. He is a danger to himself, possibly others when rageful.. I am in North Carolina. I am afraid he will die if not confined for evaluation. Just alcohol or likely other mental illness is uncertain Thank You.
My ex husband. Still married. Decided he wanted to try loving more than one person. Moved her into our home and I decided I had the right to not agree with his choice.
I contacted his father for advice and was helped with making the final choice to leave. He was physical with me as well which was toxic enough so I left.
Unfortunately we had three children involved. He left with his father so I packed up the children as I think any mother would. My father then helped me move. A month went by of me trying to reach him to see if he would like to see the children and finally he got back to me.
I brought the kids by and needed to supply Everything down to a place to sleep. I found myself caring for the children the entire time. Forcing him to take any kind of responsibility. Like nothing had changed. He then took the time to convince his and my family I was returning to him and had my ride convinced the same.
Now to get a hand up he claims he has had me committed. Is this even possible.? And why would someone think false accusations are a proper way to go about getting custody? Seeing a therapist is something you do on the outside or in one of the groups during week days.
The reasoning has been explained to me as this, my freedom is less important than the potential loss of their livelihood when they listen to me talk about my depression. Recreational therapy was nice as they literally cordoned off the bulk of the art supplies otherwise, was also the only time we were allowed to walk past the locked doors.
Oddly enough seems other patients are more likely to sincerely listen, something a lot of the patients I feel lacked in their lives, myself included. Would also note that I felt the nursing and mental health techs were understaffed and overworked. Mind you- saying this from the perspective of a patient, and hoping this is a one off experience.
I also become traumatized to hospitals and paranoid about any mention of suicide ideation which I imagine will make my recovery all the more difficult.
You can only have one therapist at a time and I had a therapist before being admitted and by no means was going to risk losing what I considered the rather great therapist for a randomly assigned one by the hospital that swapped my voluntarily status to involuntarily. I know of at least one sweet soul struggling so badly she mentioned all the various ways in which she was planning to kill herself as she saw no way to make a life once on the outside.
Just a bit of food for thought for those wondering what being baker acted is like.
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