My dad has dementia and his health has greatly declined. He is 92-years-old and his girlfriend/caretaker will not allow me to visit or call him. In his first stage of dementia she coerced him into signing a POA. She moved him from our family home to her house. She thinks she has full control, has blocked my phone calls and will not allow me to visit my dad. What rights do I have so I can see my dad before he dies?
In response, with the resources you recommended, who would you contact first?
Lawyer - ( Legal advise)
APS - what specifically would I report?
a. Her not giving me access to my dad by phone or visit?
b. Financial abuse?
c. Your suggestions?
Police - would I contact and request their presence when I arrive at her house to visit?
Your recommendations are earnestly appreciated.
Seasand
Seasand
Have you any suggestions of an alternation way to present to APS?
Two years ago I documented and reported the caretaker’s abuse and neglect to APS. The EMT and hospital’s records and documentation the supporting data and verification of the abuse and neglect.
When I reported to APS Caseworker, I emphasized that I was waiting on the hospital records to be provided to me and I would submit the documentation upon receipt from the hospital to the caseworker. Within 2 weeks of filing the abuse, the caseworker dropped the case before receiving the supporting document, therefore no accountability of the abuse/ neglect was implemented nor was the case properly investigated.
The verbiage that you recommend, I will provide to APS.
Time is of essence.
Thank you so much!
Seasand
Again, thank you very much!
Seasand
You already contacted APS 2 years ago, and they dropped the case about neglect.
There must be a reason why now you post on the forum. The caregiver is even worse? Contact APS again, explain the whole situation. Call the police, explain. They’ll tell you what to do: most likely they’ll say, call APS.
Lenore
In Florida this is very common, women take advantage of old men, get them to sell everything, then convinces them to either make them the beneficiary or make a new will. He dies and they get everything.
Don't dilly dally get legal representation now, find out what really is going on.
2 CNAS reported that my mom was being abused by her live in caregiver & they did nothing. They just told my sibling who had POA the caretaker couldn’t be there when the CNAS were.
A lawyer is your only resort. I went through this whole scenario& it’s heartbreaking.
I agree with everyone saying you need to get an attorney.
I would be curious to find out if he made the girlfriend/caretaker POA before or after his diagnosis with dementia? If it was after it is possible that the POA is not legal.
This might also be worth a call to the Elder Abuse Hotline in your state
There could be Financial abuse as well as physical or emotional abuse.
Prayers
Siblings not sharing pertinent information is what causes mistrust.
That sounds like control to me.
A POA should act in the best interest of the client and if the client was sharing before it should still be shared with other siblings especially if they’re helping out
Next, imagine POA is legally accused of acting against the best interests. A judge might decide POA did act in the best interests: there were good reasons for not sharing the information. It all depends on the case.
“and if the client was sharing before it should still be shared with other siblings especially if they’re helping out”
Things can change. The situation can change.
The final word is a judge’s word.
And for those who believe in God, the final, final word is God’s.
This is why no one should do any caregiving unless they have POA.