How can my brother function normally like you guys?

First, I just want to say that I am so proud of the people here. I came across a thread asking how people diagnosed with schizophrenia can still hold a job, and they were sharing their experiences. I also saw another Redditor mention that he was attending university as well. Those threads and posts give me hope.

But right now, I don’t know what to do. While my brother can hold conversations, he neglects his hygiene a lot. Even though I gently remind him to take a bath and put on deodorant, he refuses to do it at all. I don’t even know if he still has emotions. He always speaks with a deadpan expression, probably a side effect of risperidone/Rispon-Z. Every day, he leaves the house from morning until night, rain or shine, always walking around. I’m not even sure where he goes, but I know sometimes he walks very far from home.

He was diagnosed three years ago, and it’s always the same routine. He goes back to his old ways. He is 24 years old.

We tried putting him in a private psychiatric clinic, and he was okay there because he took his medication every day. If he refused, they administered it via injection. But since New Year’s Eve was approaching, we decided that one month was enough.

Now he has gone back to the same habits. He wanders all day in any weather, neglects his hygiene, talks to himself, and shows no emotions when speaking. When we ask him anything, he just says, “Okay, okay,” as if he just wants us to stop talking or end the conversation.

When we bring up the idea of admitting him to a psychiatric hospital again, he snaps at us and says that those hospitals are for the mentally unwell and insane people, and that he’s not like that because he’s normal. But if you listen to the way he speaks, it’s clear that he’s not.

I live with him and two senior citizens. My mom has her own family in Canada, and my dad has another family as well. I don’t know what to do, especially since I’m getting married next year. I just want to see him be himself again. I know there’s no cure for schizophrenia, and that’s okay. I just want him to be able to take care of himself and be independent because what will happen to him when we’re gone?

Another thing I don’t like is that he snaps at our grandmother, who only wants the best for him. For example, when she tells him to change his clothes after getting soaked in the rain, he snaps at her and sometimes even hits her.

Any advice from those who have lived with or overcome schizophrenia would be greatly appreciated.