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My Grandma, who is 95 & my last living relative, is on the verge of Dementia and has made my life extremely difficult the last year. She has spread lies about me, defamed my character, called me bipolar ( I am not) in the town I grew up in. I stepped out of her life for a month due to dangerous allegations. During that time she fell x2. The last put her in the hosp and then re-hab, due to her knees buckling, I am her POA. One doctor told me she is having strong delusions and believes them, but is competent. Nursing home Dr told me she has dementia, the start of it, Social worker says she does not & will be discharged home. She told the hospital that a friend was her brother, and he is just a friend. It's manipulation to get home and have him fill her med minders. Something I used to do and only state-certified people can do. This is very concerning. She is blind and will not accept paid support. If she is competent, I cannot do anything for long-term placement, and I don't know what to do? Any suggestions? I can tell you, I have provided care for 9 years, and this behavior started in the last year, and each time I see her, she begins an argument. I have endured mental and emotional abuse for a year and I feel I must remove myself, to save myself. She pays anyone that does something for her with cash (grass cutting, bushes cut, house painting, etc, the problem is she is legally blind and cannot see the denominations and will not let me help her. I am her POA—any suggestions.
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Sorry you’re getting mixed signals from those involved with Grandma’s care. This definitely sounds like dementia and not the beginnings of it. You’re wise to realize you need to protect yourself. Geaton gave excellent advice on resigning POA and reporting to APS, I hope you’ll follow it. I wish you peace
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I'm sorry for this distressing situation.

Did her doctor actually perform a cogntive/memory exam on your Grandma? Doesn't sound like it.

If your Grandma is having delusions and paranoia *regularly*, she is already in moderate dementia. Ideally she should be taken to a new doctor. You can tell her a therapeutic fib: that she needs to complete her free annual Medicare wellness exam (which is a real thing) in order for her benefits to continue. If she allows you to take her, you go with your PoA docs and a pre-written note explaining her symptoms and that you need her to be tested and you need a written diagnosis on the clinic letterhead and signed by her doctor so that you can activate your PoA authority so you can operate in her best interests.

But even with active PoA it is very difficult to get a resistant and irrational elder to cooperate. You won't be able to force your solutions onto her. Your options are:

- You can call and report her to APS to make sure they know she's vulnerable and that you've been trying to help her but she won't allow it. Do not be involved with her at all and just wait until she has a medical crisis. When she's at the hospital bring your PoA paperwork. You explain that she's an "unsafe discharge" being blind and delusional and resistant to any help from anyone. Then ask to talk to a hospital social worker about transitioning her directly into a facility. You make sure she doesn't call anyone else to come and get her.

- you resign your PoA and call APS to report her as a vulnerable adult. The county will put her on track for a court-appointed 3rd party legal guardian and they will deal with her accusations, resistance and delusions and get her the appropriate care she needs.

I know you want to help her but the reality is that being partially involved just delays an actual solution for her. By what you describe she is doing most or all of her ADLs and somehow is managing to not start her house on fire or fall down stairs. I get that you're worried about her being financially abused. Not sure you can do anything to solve this since she's paranoid. Her world is about retaining control. As long as you are in contact with social workers and they know you've been trying to help her, then you'll have to endure the delusions and confabulations she spins about you (and probably others).

May you receive clarity and wisdom, and peace in your heart as you wait for an opportunity to step in and advocate for her.
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