Actually I'm sure if I am at wits end then there are many thousands of you in similar positions so it's a comfort to know I'm not alone!
Basically. My mum (82) was diagnosed with Mixed Dementia in December 2014. There have been many many failings, she is alone in a bungalow, 100 miles from me with no support. That's a separate issue but I think I am now going to have to start complaint procedures against the local Mental Health Service.
Main issue infront of me is...I'm her sole attorney for financial affairs which has only recently come through (July). On digging around I have found significant debt....£625 rental arrears £520 Council Tax arrears and £1000 Water Bill arrears including a CCJ. Mum has never been good with money although always paid her rent on time...some of the water bill I fear precedes her dementia. BT recently cut her off...I admit I should have been on top of that one but paid the bill and got her reconnected.
She has lost all financial capacity (indeed I would say she is in danger or serious self neglect now). She has just one account with £96 in (of last week) and the state pension. One would think that with not paying bills she would have more money but she has none, in fact it has become apparent she is not feeding herself. I fear she gives money away or has just lost any sense of value with it and how to spend it.
The local council to their credit have been very understanding, I sent them a letter along with a copy of the LPA. I spoke to Citizens Advice and am waiting for them to call back and arrange a meeting. Anglian Water seem less understanding. I've just received an officious email from them saying 'pay by 23 Sept or else' despite me having told them that a) I'm only handling this in an administrative capacity ie I'm not liable for the bill and b) mum has dementia and no means to pay the bill.
I've simply no idea what to do. I'm struggling on my own with this from 100 miles away. My sister was so angry at the local Care services for sending her back home that she walked away saying she didn't want to see mum or talk to her again (her reasoning being that mums life would collapse to the point where she would have to go into care). I run my own illustration business in publishing but my income has dropped 60% this year trying to keep on top of all this...on top of that my health has suffered and the panic attacks started three weeks ago...I've got CBT booked in for next week.
I'm sure these problems and symptoms are not unique but I really don't know what to do anymore...she can't survive on the money she has as she has no concept of what to do with it, there's not a cat in hells chance of the bill being paid. There now seems to be doubt as to whether or not her condition was formally diagnosed and recorded and as such she will not be liable for exemption from council tax. I was there the day after she was diagnosed in hospital but no dept seems to have talked to anyone else.
It's a mess and yes...I'm at my wits end.
Basically. My mum (82) was diagnosed with Mixed Dementia in December 2014. There have been many many failings, she is alone in a bungalow, 100 miles from me with no support. That's a separate issue but I think I am now going to have to start complaint procedures against the local Mental Health Service.
Main issue infront of me is...I'm her sole attorney for financial affairs which has only recently come through (July). On digging around I have found significant debt....£625 rental arrears £520 Council Tax arrears and £1000 Water Bill arrears including a CCJ. Mum has never been good with money although always paid her rent on time...some of the water bill I fear precedes her dementia. BT recently cut her off...I admit I should have been on top of that one but paid the bill and got her reconnected.
She has lost all financial capacity (indeed I would say she is in danger or serious self neglect now). She has just one account with £96 in (of last week) and the state pension. One would think that with not paying bills she would have more money but she has none, in fact it has become apparent she is not feeding herself. I fear she gives money away or has just lost any sense of value with it and how to spend it.
The local council to their credit have been very understanding, I sent them a letter along with a copy of the LPA. I spoke to Citizens Advice and am waiting for them to call back and arrange a meeting. Anglian Water seem less understanding. I've just received an officious email from them saying 'pay by 23 Sept or else' despite me having told them that a) I'm only handling this in an administrative capacity ie I'm not liable for the bill and b) mum has dementia and no means to pay the bill.
I've simply no idea what to do. I'm struggling on my own with this from 100 miles away. My sister was so angry at the local Care services for sending her back home that she walked away saying she didn't want to see mum or talk to her again (her reasoning being that mums life would collapse to the point where she would have to go into care). I run my own illustration business in publishing but my income has dropped 60% this year trying to keep on top of all this...on top of that my health has suffered and the panic attacks started three weeks ago...I've got CBT booked in for next week.
I'm sure these problems and symptoms are not unique but I really don't know what to do anymore...she can't survive on the money she has as she has no concept of what to do with it, there's not a cat in hells chance of the bill being paid. There now seems to be doubt as to whether or not her condition was formally diagnosed and recorded and as such she will not be liable for exemption from council tax. I was there the day after she was diagnosed in hospital but no dept seems to have talked to anyone else.
It's a mess and yes...I'm at my wits end.