[perdita]

Hi,

My whole family are at our wit’s end.

My aunt has been an alcoholic for over 20 years. She has been hospitalised multiple times and been through various rehab/detox with no results. She has evidence of irreversible damage because of alcoholism, cirrhosis and multiple head injuries, fluid in abdomen. She is basically reaching the point where she can’t care for herself but will refuse any outside help

She is now getting older (over 50s) and lives alone in a rented flat. She was recently admitted to hospital and discharged. My family are still actively involved. Her son visits every day to take her alcohol because she has previously fitted when withdrawing. She is now not washing/taking care of herself/ excrement all over the appartment. Other tenants are complaining and I worry she will be evicted. She has money so wouldn’t meet the threshold for council/residential housing. But no idea where she would end up if she did get evicted.

We don’t know what to do. The GP is aware of the issues but can’t really help. My aunt doesn’t want help. Her son now has mental health issues and is self-harming because of this. He is so afraid not to visit in case she dies overnight, it is ruining his life. He is however enabling her and we cannot get him to stop.

If she doesn’t want any help and is able to make that decision for herself- I guess there is no where else to turn aside from leave her as she is? If she ends up homeless but has the monetary means to buy a house/ rent- can social services get involved or not? Is there any point paying for one of these private interventions to try and get her into a rehab facility?

Would be grateful for any ideas or insight.

Thanks

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