My mother has Alzheimer's and lives in memory care near me. My stepfather (who lives in a different city) is her POA. I am her successor POA if he cannot serve due to "death, incapacity or written resignation". He had a stroke three weeks ago and is now in a nursing home. His daughter is his POA. I have a document signed by the psychiatrist that admitted him saying that he is unable to make his own medical decisions. However, my mother's bank will not accept this document as proof of incapacity in order to transfer POA to me. They state that the document must specify that he cannot make "financial" decisions. I have been trying for three weeks to get another doctor to sign a new form and have had no luck. I keep being told that they do not have "anything to do with financial matters". It's so frustrating, especially since I live about three hours away. I called around trying to find an independent doctor that would go evaluate him, but could not find one. I've spoken to my lawyer about maybe having my stepsister sign a document resigning his POA, but they do not know if that will work. Does anyone have any other ideas?
Go to an elder law attorney and they can get it straightened out.
but, even before my Mom was incapacitated, her bank made us jump through hoops to get a POA approved.
And even after my Dad's death, I was the executrix and had the death certificate and will in hand, and they gave me a hard time closing his accounts.
I HATE BANKS!
Not again to defend banks but they are there to PROTECT their clients. They do not have POAs for demented patients. And it would be illegal for one to suggest that a demented person sign a new POA. But the bank WILL have its own way of making the account. None of this adding your name to a parent's account as co-owner. That's a no-no.
See an attorney. You Mom's funds can be reimbursed once this is accomplished but it is a bit of a mess in mixed families. And so much more costly and complicated. Any way you look at it this will be a court action; try to go the cheapest way. Any guardianship or conservatorship trumps the POA.
First ditch effort contact the MC where Mom is and tell them. They may be connected with a Social worker. Often they can make a phone call to a judge to get temporary guardianship. And then you would follow through for permanent. They would have better access to MDs.