My 67-year old mother has a mental illness and lives in St. Charles, Missouri; I live in Indiana. When mom takes her medicine as directed, she functions fairly well. But then she decides she doesn’t need it any longer and starts to get sick again. What can you suggest I do from here to help or who can we contact in her area to help keep an eye on her and see that she’s taking good care of her mental health?

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services cannot provide direct services to your mother. However, your mother may be eligible for Nurse Visits to set up and monitor her medications weekly via a medi-planner. If you would like your mother’s eligibility for this service determined, you may contact the Bureau of Home and Community Services office in St. Charles at telephone number 636-940-3170. One of our staff in that office will complete a screening to determine if your mother would be eligible and also may know of additional resources in the community. The Social Service Worker in that office will also be able to provide you the name of in-home providers that provide nurse visits on a private pay basis. For a listing of in-home health care agencies that provide assistance with medication management, you should contact the local Alzheimer’s Association at 314-432-3422 or visit their website at www.alzstl.org.  You could also contact the Mo-East AAA at 636-207-0847. This Area Agency on Aging can plan and coordinate programs and services for senior citizens like your mother.

David Morgan, Chief
Bureau of Home and Community Services
573-526-8537

I can certainly sympathize with you. There are many of us adult out-of-town children who have concerns about our aging parents and their ability to care for their health issues. It can be a source of comfort if you have a team of caring, competent professionals looking after your loved one. Your mother may qualify for services at the Community Mental Health Center for St. Charles County – Crider Center for Mental Health. If your mother is her own guardian, she must be the one to initiate the call to request services. An example of a service your mother may qualify for is called Community Support Services in which she would be assigned to a “team” of Mental Health Professionals, including a case worker and a nurse who could make home visits to monitor her mental health, set-up her medications and educate her about their use, and assist her with other goals of her choosing. With your mother’s permission, you could call her caseworker from time to time to inquire about her mental health. Should your mother get sick again, the Community Support Team will consult with you and take necessary action. You can learn more about the services available at Crider Center for Mental Health by calling our Access Department at 636-332-6000 or visiting our web site at www.cridercenter.org. 

Nancy K. Gongaware, MA, LPC
VP, Crider Center for Mental Health
Serving St. Charles, Lincoln, Warren, and Franklin Counties

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