When a guy won't take care of himself?

Thanks to everyone who has helped with advice regarding my neighbors stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer. It's been so helpful and I need advice from other guys about helping him.

He is not taking care of himself in many areas. He is an adult, I know I'm not his mom (acknowledging he is responsible for himself), he is very ill, and chemo is hitting him hard. He is also making many poor choices.

He is skipping meds that I clearly label for him, even when he gets a reminder text to go take them. He is eating fast food exclusively. His restaurants of choice are popeyes chicken and long john silvers. He refused to take advantage of the great advice here about gearing up for chemo when I shared some of the strategies with him. He isn't drinking enough water or any other liquid. That choice landed him in the ER this afternoon dehydrated and with extreme constipation. 

Any suggestions on how to encourage him to 'man up' or would it be better to keep my mouth shut (my current strategy) and let the consequences of his choices speak for themselves?

I will continue helping him with meds and oncology appointments regardless of his choices. I welcome any suggestions or insights. Thank you.

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Comments

  • VascodaGama
    VascodaGama Member Posts: 3,638 Member
    Euthanasia

    Depending on the regulations in the place you live, by assisting your neighbor you might be committing a crime. What you describe above is opposite of what you commented in your earlier thread. It seams that your neighbor is looking for Euthanasia and probably trying to get you as his assistant. This is punitive by law in most of the counties. I would recommend you of informing the local authorities before you proceed with anything.

  • hewhositsoncushions
    hewhositsoncushions Member Posts: 411 Member
    Grace

    Grace

    A very complex and difficult situation here.

    I'm speaking here as a trainee therapist not a newbie PCa victim so bear with me.

    May I suggest the first thing you do is start to think of is yourself first. I know this sounds harsh but you need to protect yourself mentally, emotionally and legally. If you expend all your emotional energy on someone and take ownership of someone else in a situation like this, you will be less able to help in the long term because you will be stressed. You may also as Vasco says be seen to be abetting. Finally, whatever their current sitiuation, this is their life for them to own (with help).

    You need to seek help for him, not take all the burden. The establishment should be the one bearing the burden for someone with diminished responsibility and no kin to help. Not sure where you are in the world (US?) but try contacting his doctor, a local cancer / mental health / people with no families charity or something. Get advice on how to flag his situation up to the establishment and get official help.

    In terms of his behaviour, he may or may not be trying to end his life. People's motives are often complex and it not be (or just be) a desire to end it. I'm rapidly starting to realise feeling a lack of control is part of this process. It could be thats he is acting out by missing his meds and bad eating as a control mechanism. Deep down, where he is not aware of it, he may find comfort in the control he feels he has by choosing a burger over greens. This is similar to why people cut themselves if their life situation is bad. There may be other reasons and motivations too, such as simply being in denial. This is why he needs mental health help, not just medical because you probably can't and arguably shouldn't unpick his motives from where you are and certainly will face an uphill battle getting him to change.

    I'm UK based and the level of MH support I got when I was sat down and told (however kindly they did it) was "here's a folder with a load of advice and contacts, now bugger off until we MRI you." MH support generally lags behind everything else around most of the world which is why we need to own it as individuals.

    Hopefully others can share ideas as well.

    Good luck!

    C

  • hopeful and optimistic
    hopeful and optimistic Member Posts: 2,339 Member
    .

    We are all different. You and your friend significant ly differ on what needs to be done to abate the progression of his cancer. He obviously is not, and will not in the futurecomply with his doctors medical directions.

    As you realize, you will not be able to change him. Time to stop beating yourself up, trying to change him, and take care of yourself.

  • FinishingGrace
    FinishingGrace Member Posts: 82

    Euthanasia

    Depending on the regulations in the place you live, by assisting your neighbor you might be committing a crime. What you describe above is opposite of what you commented in your earlier thread. It seams that your neighbor is looking for Euthanasia and probably trying to get you as his assistant. This is punitive by law in most of the counties. I would recommend you of informing the local authorities before you proceed with anything.

    Thank you.

    Thank you.

    I'm not quite sure I understand your comments. But I haven't gone back and reread my original thread. I made two committments in my own mind to establish boundaries for my own good. One is to help my neighbor to take his meds at the proper times. I can't force him to do so but I remind him. The other is that every third Wednesday I take him to chemo. These are the two things I've done for him from the begining. I'm not sure how those actions could lead to assisted suicide but I'm curious to understand your thinking. Thanks!

  • FinishingGrace
    FinishingGrace Member Posts: 82

    Grace

    Grace

    A very complex and difficult situation here.

    I'm speaking here as a trainee therapist not a newbie PCa victim so bear with me.

    May I suggest the first thing you do is start to think of is yourself first. I know this sounds harsh but you need to protect yourself mentally, emotionally and legally. If you expend all your emotional energy on someone and take ownership of someone else in a situation like this, you will be less able to help in the long term because you will be stressed. You may also as Vasco says be seen to be abetting. Finally, whatever their current sitiuation, this is their life for them to own (with help).

    You need to seek help for him, not take all the burden. The establishment should be the one bearing the burden for someone with diminished responsibility and no kin to help. Not sure where you are in the world (US?) but try contacting his doctor, a local cancer / mental health / people with no families charity or something. Get advice on how to flag his situation up to the establishment and get official help.

    In terms of his behaviour, he may or may not be trying to end his life. People's motives are often complex and it not be (or just be) a desire to end it. I'm rapidly starting to realise feeling a lack of control is part of this process. It could be thats he is acting out by missing his meds and bad eating as a control mechanism. Deep down, where he is not aware of it, he may find comfort in the control he feels he has by choosing a burger over greens. This is similar to why people cut themselves if their life situation is bad. There may be other reasons and motivations too, such as simply being in denial. This is why he needs mental health help, not just medical because you probably can't and arguably shouldn't unpick his motives from where you are and certainly will face an uphill battle getting him to change.

    I'm UK based and the level of MH support I got when I was sat down and told (however kindly they did it) was "here's a folder with a load of advice and contacts, now bugger off until we MRI you." MH support generally lags behind everything else around most of the world which is why we need to own it as individuals.

    Hopefully others can share ideas as well.

    Good luck!

    C

    I appreciate that insight. I

    I appreciate that insight. I've wondered if he isn't eating what he wants, etc. because he feels like he's going to die anyways, so why not?

    The oncologists, nurses, and social workers are fully informed of his living conditions (deplorable), the fact that he has zero income, his depression, and the other behaviors because I report in regularly. I am protecting myself and putting myself first by allowing them to fully manage those issues for my neighbor. I give him his meds and take him to chemo. That is a good balance for me. It may not be for everyone.

    I haven't seen clearly, until your post, that he needs to be getting mental health care. He is terrified and is completely denying everything. I cannot help him in this area nor am I going too. I will place a call to his somewhat worthless social worker today and ask her to get that set up.

    Thank you.

  • FinishingGrace
    FinishingGrace Member Posts: 82

    .

    We are all different. You and your friend significant ly differ on what needs to be done to abate the progression of his cancer. He obviously is not, and will not in the futurecomply with his doctors medical directions.

    As you realize, you will not be able to change him. Time to stop beating yourself up, trying to change him, and take care of yourself.

    Yes. Absolutely. It seems

    Yes. Absolutely. It seems clear that he is not going to comply with the doctors. That is his decision. 

    I was hoping that perhaps there was some way I could help him see the need for self care and that you guys might have had some experience personally with feeling the way my neighbor feels. Guys and gals tend to approach health and self care differently and I wanted some insight to help me know what might resonate with him. Sometime people need a small or large smack in the face to help them see the truth. Sometimes nothing is going to work.

    I am at complete peace. It doesn't bother me to watch him eat fried chicken every day because I simply cannot care so much that I am bothered by it. Meds and chemo is all I'm in for.

    I will ask about my liability regarding the meds and will step away from that if necessary. I don't think I'm beating myself up. Yesterday, when he needed a ride to the emergency room, he asked me to take him. The answer? No. What do I do? I take care of meds and chemo. I do not take care of getting you to the ER because you won't take care of yourself. 

    No trouble sleeping last night. :)

  • hewhositsoncushions
    hewhositsoncushions Member Posts: 411 Member

    I appreciate that insight. I

    I appreciate that insight. I've wondered if he isn't eating what he wants, etc. because he feels like he's going to die anyways, so why not?

    The oncologists, nurses, and social workers are fully informed of his living conditions (deplorable), the fact that he has zero income, his depression, and the other behaviors because I report in regularly. I am protecting myself and putting myself first by allowing them to fully manage those issues for my neighbor. I give him his meds and take him to chemo. That is a good balance for me. It may not be for everyone.

    I haven't seen clearly, until your post, that he needs to be getting mental health care. He is terrified and is completely denying everything. I cannot help him in this area nor am I going too. I will place a call to his somewhat worthless social worker today and ask her to get that set up.

    Thank you.

    Grace

    Grace

    It's people like you and the others on this forum that give me hope for humanity. It's the paper pushers in the estalishment that make me despair. It all evens out :)

    It may be that. As I suggested, it may well be more complex. It may even be a cry for help. Only somene sitting down with this person will tell.

    You are right not to own this. This is a difficult situation as the kind of help this person needs is very specialised. Do you have the equivalent of https://www.macmillan.org.uk/ where you are? They provide a huge level of support including I suspect for situations like this.

    Keep us posted!

    C

  • Clevelandguy
    Clevelandguy Member Posts: 969 Member
    Another source?

    Hi,

    If he has no famly to consult with I would call 911 and tell then the sitiuation of him being very ill.  Hopefully they will send over the right people and get him the help he needs.  As a friend you can only do so much, but then again you don't want him to die.  There should be some kind of social agency that can help him fight through his illness.  Eating fried chicken I think is the least of his worries at this point in time.

    Dave 3+4

  • Old Salt
    Old Salt Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    Lots of good comments

    I agree that calling in 'mental' services/help is appropriate. Where I live, mental support is available, but this may not be true everywhere in the USA. And I predict  that, even if available, they may not be able to do much.

  • Old Salt
    Old Salt Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    edited May 2017 #11

    Euthanasia

    Depending on the regulations in the place you live, by assisting your neighbor you might be committing a crime. What you describe above is opposite of what you commented in your earlier thread. It seams that your neighbor is looking for Euthanasia and probably trying to get you as his assistant. This is punitive by law in most of the counties. I would recommend you of informing the local authorities before you proceed with anything.

    Poor choices

    I also do not understand Vasco's response. The neighbor is just continuing to make poor choices, notwithstanding better (in our eyes) advice. It's his life and he is allowed to make his own choices. And, in all honesty, even if he were to take all our advice, his outlook would still be dire.

  • hewhositsoncushions
    hewhositsoncushions Member Posts: 411 Member
    Grace

    Grace

    Swingshift is right (we call it sectioning in the UK) that it might be possible to get him committed as a precursor to better care.

    The main thing is that this gets done sensitively because having a "One flew over the cuckoo nest" moment would not be helpful.

    Just remember that you've done your best whatever the outcome.

    C

  • Swingshiftworker
    Swingshiftworker Member Posts: 1,017 Member

    Yes. Absolutely. It seems

    Yes. Absolutely. It seems clear that he is not going to comply with the doctors. That is his decision. 

    I was hoping that perhaps there was some way I could help him see the need for self care and that you guys might have had some experience personally with feeling the way my neighbor feels. Guys and gals tend to approach health and self care differently and I wanted some insight to help me know what might resonate with him. Sometime people need a small or large smack in the face to help them see the truth. Sometimes nothing is going to work.

    I am at complete peace. It doesn't bother me to watch him eat fried chicken every day because I simply cannot care so much that I am bothered by it. Meds and chemo is all I'm in for.

    I will ask about my liability regarding the meds and will step away from that if necessary. I don't think I'm beating myself up. Yesterday, when he needed a ride to the emergency room, he asked me to take him. The answer? No. What do I do? I take care of meds and chemo. I do not take care of getting you to the ER because you won't take care of yourself. 

    No trouble sleeping last night. :)

    Call 911

    If your neighbor needs a "ride" to the ER and you don't want to be the one to take him there, call 911.  That's what the medics and emergency medical services are for. 

    As for your dilemma, it's only such if you take responsibility for it, which is something that you absolutely do NOT have to do in this case. I'm not sure that you are "aiding and abetting" in his demise if you "help" him to take his medications on time and take him to chemo BUT it's NOT something that you have to do.

    If he is of "sound" mind, he is doing what he wants to do for his own reasons.  It may be to speed up his death or it may just to be to enjoy what life he has left in the way he prefers.  

    If you cater to his whims at the sacrifice of your own well being, you are fostering a co-dependent relationship (the dependency obviously is on his side but you would be enabling it) that will eventually harm and deplete you emotionally and otherwise.

    If he is NOT of "sound" mind and there are social service personnel involved, they should be the ones to decide to commit him or not and to force him to receive the care that he needs regardless if he wants it or not. 

    In California (and most other states), there is a law (Welfare & Institutions Code section 5150 in CA) which permits a law enforcement officer or clinican to authorize the taking of a person into custody involuntarily for 72 hours for "observation" if the officer believes that the person is a "danger to himself or others." 

    Generally, this law is used when a person is acting erractically but it can also be used to hospitalize a person if he is not taking care of himself.   Committment beyond the 72 hour period for 14 or 30 additional days is also available at the initiative of the supervising clinician. 

    See: http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/pubs/502401.pdf

    If 911 is called, the medics should know to call the police for this purpose and any attending physician would know about the availability of this legal action as well.

    That these kinds of things need to be discussed indicate how messy a situation this is and I personally I would "wash my hands" of it.  I know you would rather not do such a thing but there is no reason for you to be involved if he is not a relative, spouse or significant other.  

    We'd all like to be good neighbors but there is a limit and that limit generally begins and ends at the front door.  Entering the door changes the relationship and not necessarily for the better as you have already discovered. 

    Again, good luck!

     

     

  • bassoneman
    bassoneman Member Posts: 58
    Eatting the Fast food..part

    I can only speak from my experince, And believe me I should not eat fast food.. But as I was doing radiation treatments ( not chemo) I was very fatigued..  My wife bless her heart knowing I was not feeling well always makes a nice meal for me..  However around the 25 treatment she went to Florida for 10 days on a vacation that was planned  with some of her friends. Well I am a grown man I can take care of myself and yup I can cook too. But.. I felt so crappy I didn't have the energy and I would wait until I was so hungry that I would head to the local pizza place and grab a slice ofpizza, a sub, or a quick burger.. Why? .. It was fast..   As mentioned I didn't have chemo but I have heard that really knocks the crap out of you.. I imagine food doesnt look too promissing specailly when you have to cook it.. I would most likey do the same thing he does..  (And I have 7 heart stents with carotid issues so my  PC is icing on the cake) So  a suggestion, is meals on wheels still around? I know the new administration was cutting some of the funding for that.. But that may solve the problem of him eating fast food. He is eating the fast food because he doesn't want to cook and mostlikely doesn't feel well enough or have the money to sit in a restaurant. And I think you mentioned he didn't have very much monetary resouces.. Fast food is cheap...  Also in our area we have a town nurse which can be a resource if there is one in your area or the council on aging may also help..  I would try that route before having him sectioned..  But that is me..

     

  • Grinder
    Grinder Member Posts: 487 Member
    Adult Autism

    Just my opinion, but the behavior of your friend sounds typical of adult autism or possibly Asperger's Syndrome. His refusal to take responsibility for himself, his denial of his condition, his indulging in comfort food, etc. Let me ask you this question... do you feel like you have taken the role of his parent? Does he regard you as a parent? This usually goes undiagnosed because of our expectations of adult behavior from older persons. When they display juvenile or child-like behavior, we write it off as immature or antisocial behavior, when in fact the person is biologically fixated at a juvenile stage of maturity. Does he act and behave as a ten year old? A fifteen year old? etc.

    One way to know for sure... was he indulgent and irresponsible before his cancer diagnosis, or is this behavior solely caused by the shock of the cancer diagnosis. Judging from the complete void of friends and family, I am betting he has always been this way, and his family misinterpreted his behavior as antisocial and irresponsible, when it may have been behavior consistent with autism. 

    If it is autism or Asperger's, that needs to be considered in his cancer treatment by a professional familiar with adult autism. If he is eligible for Medicare, he can have a hospice worker visit to manage his meds. That would also relieve you of some of the liability VDG mentioned, of which I am also concerned about. Upon his demise you may be subjected to unfair implications since you are not a family member nor a professional health care worker. But don't let that sway you if you feel like you are his only contact with compassion. It takes a lot of character to do the right thing when someone doesn't show their appreciation for it, or even resents your compassionate involvement.

    This is all my opinion and my experience with autism and its associated behaviors.

  • FinishingGrace
    FinishingGrace Member Posts: 82
    edited May 2017 #16
    All very good points.

    I went over tonight and gave him his meds for the evening. We had a good talk and he mentioned that he believed he needed to see a therapist because of the struggle he is having handling all of this appropriately. Huge step for him. He is super emotional and I see the effects of the hormone shot they gave him last week. He can't do anything but cry.

    He sees the doctor on Wednesday and I've communicated the challenges to the office so the doctor can address these things with him. I'm also going to call his (still worthless) social worker and see about counseling for him. I'm tempted to call her every hour on the hour until she returns my calls.... -_-

    The American Cancer Society is providing him with rides to all of his appointments except for when I take him to chemo. Got that set up today, such an incredible help for him.

    There is a balance here for me and I'm not certain I've found it but I have certainly been helped by everyone's insight and advice. Thanks guys!

  • hewhositsoncushions
    hewhositsoncushions Member Posts: 411 Member
    @Grinder - you may be right

    @Grinder - you may be right but there is probably not enough information here. It could be Aspergers, it could be co-dependency, it could be severe depression, it could be early onset dementia, it could be diabetes, it could be Bipolar. And so on.... The experts will review and make an assessent and he will (if lucky) be triaged to a counsellor, therapist or clinical pshychologist as needed.

    @Grace - great news. When you mentioned the hormones, that made me twig. They will definitely be playing a huge part - he needs to be aware that it is not his fault but the hormones, and leanr to accept and process the feelings. If his social worker still draags, perhaps you can sic the ACS on him? Sounds like you are reaching the right balance.

     

    C

  • Grinder
    Grinder Member Posts: 487 Member
    Makes sense

    I checked his age in the earlier posts after Hewho suggested age related disorders. The beginning stages of early onset Alzheimer's could be possible, like Hewho is suggesting. In that case, unlike autism and Aspergers, the deterioration in behavior will get worse. A lot of times people think of adults exhibiting "child like" behavior, its the happy trusting kind. But no, often its the rebellious, indulgent, and antisocial behavior like an angry adolescent. Parents of difficult teenagers know what that behavior is like and how monumentally difficult it is to deal with it. I think, just my opinion too, that the case worker is in way over their head in this, because those behaviors will only stir frustration and resentment in anyone not trained to handle those persons and their particular behaviors. The problem now, these syndromes are relatively newly recognized so there may not be a lot of resources available. He is not eligible for Medicare so that is a sticky wicket. I know from experience with similar situations that Medicaid will be unable to provide the proper diagnosis and treatment for any of these conditions, and the health insurance companies including the ACA exchanges will not prioritize the mental health treatment of someone with a terminal illness. 

    I am still shocked and amazed that you continue to go to bat for him. I have been very disappointed in the attitude of Americans for some time, and feared for the future of this country. But when I think of the time and energy you have spent helping someone that society just kicked to the curb, and that someone is not capable of appreciating it, it restores some of my confidence. Let us do what your friend is incapable of doing because of his peculiar mental condition... We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for him.

  • Grinder
    Grinder Member Posts: 487 Member
    Going to ask

    My daughter in law is a supervisor as well as case worker in social services. I am going to ask her if she has any recommendations for available resources for your friend, as well as your liability in this. Am still greatly concerned about that. It may take a few days though.

  • FinishingGrace
    FinishingGrace Member Posts: 82
    Good news...

    Last night when he mentioned the need for counseling I gave him back some paperwork regarding SSI. He hasn't filled it out for me to be able to help him with it so I was unable to talk to the SSI people. I gave it back to him and let him know he would have to handle it. Huge blessing in disguise! He got up this morning, got dressed, took his trash out AND made some calls to SSI and got things straightened out. He told me on the phone that he wasn't going to sit around and feel sorry for himself any longer and he was going to do what he could to improve his situation.  

    It's easy to help someone with such an attitude. He sees the doctor and a counslor tomorrow and his social worker is meeting with him to get him signed up for food stamps. (Someone lit a fire under that social worker and I'm not saying it was me but it wasn't anyone else!) Cool 

    I'm not going to any of this and I'm certain he can handle it. 

  • FinishingGrace
    FinishingGrace Member Posts: 82
    edited May 2017 #21
    Grinder said:

    Going to ask

    My daughter in law is a supervisor as well as case worker in social services. I am going to ask her if she has any recommendations for available resources for your friend, as well as your liability in this. Am still greatly concerned about that. It may take a few days though.

    Thanks.

    Thanks.

    I'm interested in the liability as well but not overly concerned.