My mother has been diagnosed with dementia. Stage 4/Alzheimer’s. We are getting by, but I’m stressing. Driving is an issue. I have the keys, but she threatens to drive, and I can’t get anyone else to look her in the eye and say, “No Driving.” My fear is that she could get in an accident and, as her POA, I could be sued for allowing her drive when I know her diagnosis. Valid concern? Her doctor only tells her it is not a good idea. Wimps.
I travel and am gone for as long as 10 days at a time. My mother has refused to accept any sort of in-home help even daily. When I’m gone, I keep things running with medicine reminders, grocery orders and daily meal deliveries. She does not cook. She does not want me to tell anyone when I am out if town. She doesn’t want to have to pay to entertain someone. I have zero support. It’s stressful. A friend told me that was neglect/elder abuse. She flat out refuses to let me set up any sort of Plan B. Could I seriously be charged with neglect/elder abuse if something were to happen when I’m out of town?
My sister will come in to change out medicine during my absence, but she only stays for four hours. She is not easily reached by phone or any other means.
I am going a little crazy with stress.
You are responsible for handling her financial matters and making sure she has adequate housing and care. You're saying that she refuses any kind of outside help. It's not for her to refuse or accept because it's not her decision to make anymore. She is incompetent and it is documented. You make her decisions now. You can bring in homecare help. You can put her into care also. She doesn't get a say because you're the one in charge and the one who is responsible for her.
Let her rant and rave until kingdom come about not being able to drive. If there's no access to a car she isn't going to be driving anywhere.
You are right about doctors and many other health care professionals not being willing to tell an elderly patient a hard 'NO' on some things like driving. They don't want to deal with an angry, irate, demented senior throwing a fit in their office and disturbing everyone. That's understandable.
Depending on what your mother's finances look like, you may also be able to put her into respite care in a nursing home or memory care when you have to travel for work.
Talk to your state's Ombudsman's office. They will be able to help you find out what services are available for mother.
Your Mom at this point has lost her short-term memory and the ability to reason. You now are the adult and her the child. She needs to be somewhere safe so you can continue doing your job without worrying about her.
Yes, if she is stage four and diagnosed as such you need to REMOVE the car. Take the car to a trusted friend's for storage. Embrace your duty to tell Mom it is no longer safe to drive. Take her and her license to the DMV and get her a senior ID to replace the license.
No, you cannot now leave your mom with a diagnosis of stage IV dementia alone. You are responsible.
It is time for you as POA (your Mom's funds pay for this) to see an elder law attorney about your duties as POA. Discuss your options. Once a senior is demented it is no time to easily get out of the duties you ACCEPTED as POA, and from all you say I think you are not aware, even of what your duties are.
Please see an Elder Law Attorney ASAP.
If you cannot do these duties your Mom will become a ward of the state. You will need the help of an attorney to resign and notify authorities that you Mom needs the state to step in as conservators. At that time your Mom's assets will be used by the state for her care. You will have nothing to say about placement, when, where, or her finances.
Wishing you good luck. Get that appointment today. Tell them you need to pay hourly fee to learn your duties under the POA document now that your Mom has been diagnosed with stage IV dementia.
You need a Plan B for when you're gone whether she likes it or not.
She no longer has the capacity to decide what is best for her/safe for her. The reason you are POA is because she can not make those decisions any longer.
Would you leave a 4, 5, 10 year old alone for 10 days?
The choice is having a caregiver come in while you are gone or placing her in Respite while you are away. (If your sister will not stay or bring her to her house.)
Disable the car. Better yet remove it from the property so she can not see it. Eventually "out of sight out of mind" will prevail.