This is my first post here so please be gentle with me.
My mother who's 82 was diagnosed last year. She's quite frail and is largely housebound and lives by herself in her rented house, although carers do come in each day to check up on her. One of my problems is that she won't admit the fact to herself or indeed to me. The other problem is that I live in London and she lives 300 miles away and I can only get to see her about twice a year, although I call every week.
This is really, really cutting me up. I've tried to encourage her to get out (the social services do little excursions, even if it's just to the supermarket) but she refuses – she broke her leg three years ago, and although she can climb stairs etc, now, that really dented her confidence. I really don't know what to do. I don't have the money to organise round the clock help (not that she'd accept it),
Also I've just been told that someone has taken money (not a vast sum but enough) out of her ATM – the card has now been stopped, and the police are looking into it. I've taken time off work and am seeing her tomorrow, and someone has suggested me taking out a Power of Attorney. While I understand what it is, and I know where to download the forms, I don 't know the practicalities of it – does it mean that she can't carry out any financial transactions without my authorisation/ signature etc. – which is hardly helpful when I live 300 miles away. And does it have to be done via a solicitor. Any suggestions or coments from people who have had similar experiences etc, would be welcome
My mother who's 82 was diagnosed last year. She's quite frail and is largely housebound and lives by herself in her rented house, although carers do come in each day to check up on her. One of my problems is that she won't admit the fact to herself or indeed to me. The other problem is that I live in London and she lives 300 miles away and I can only get to see her about twice a year, although I call every week.
This is really, really cutting me up. I've tried to encourage her to get out (the social services do little excursions, even if it's just to the supermarket) but she refuses – she broke her leg three years ago, and although she can climb stairs etc, now, that really dented her confidence. I really don't know what to do. I don't have the money to organise round the clock help (not that she'd accept it),
Also I've just been told that someone has taken money (not a vast sum but enough) out of her ATM – the card has now been stopped, and the police are looking into it. I've taken time off work and am seeing her tomorrow, and someone has suggested me taking out a Power of Attorney. While I understand what it is, and I know where to download the forms, I don 't know the practicalities of it – does it mean that she can't carry out any financial transactions without my authorisation/ signature etc. – which is hardly helpful when I live 300 miles away. And does it have to be done via a solicitor. Any suggestions or coments from people who have had similar experiences etc, would be welcome