Great Grandmother needs Help!

[Skyangel667]

I live in Texas and my Great Grandmother has Alzheimer's. I grew up living with her when she wasn't sick and my mom and two younger sisters still live with her. My Granny found out that my Grandma (her daughter) was moving her money around so she took her off her bank accounts and removed her from the will but kept her as the power of attorney if she were to die. Once my Granny got sick she moved back in and took complete control again. Granny has me down as the next power of attorney if anything should happen to her daughter, but things are getting ridiculous. Ophelia (her daughter) has allowed my Aunt to be the care giver during the day and all she does is sleep all day if she shows up and barely feeds my Granny. She has also been leaving her in the same depends all day and doesn't give her a bath. So my sisters and my mom have been taking turns caring for her when they get home from work/school and every weekend. We have begged Ophelia to hire someone since my Aunt is incapable, but she says she doesn't have the money!! It's not her money, it's Granny's money and she needs proper care. We've already been through Adult protective services and they said if we make one more complaint they will close down the house take all my Granny's money and put Granny in a home. We don't want that. I love my Granny and she needs to be around us. She has plenty of money to have a caregiver come in and watch her when noone is home. What can I do? Do I need a lawyer to handle this without adult protective services?

 

[Skyangel667]

oh, also...

We are also very worried that my Grandma (Ophelia) is spending my Granny's money. She keeps acting like everything is too expensive.. she won't even keep taking Granny to the same doctor. She switches them around to find the cheapest one. We've been telling her that Granny hasn't been eating much so she scheduled an appointment for next week. Granny threw up and we called Ophelia, but she was stuck on that appointment and refused to make anything sooner. She has Granny's license and insurance card. My mom was so worried yesterday that she took her to the hospital anyway and we were so thankful that they accepted her without her cards. She had a bladder infection and it almost got into her blood. Because of my Grandma thinking she has no money (which is Granny's money anway), my Grandma almost got too sick and we caught it just in time. Please someone help me!

 

[stealth2]

I would suggest you find a lawyer who has experience in elder abuse/care and see what can be done ASAP. APS should be able to do something more meaningful than just toss granny in a home if there is family willing and able to care for her.

 

[Skyangel667]

I wish APS would, but...

They already said that if the "family" can't take care of her, that's what's going to happen. My immediate family, mom sisters and brother, are the only ones who have really been there for her. My other family, Aunt, uncles, and even her daughter (my Grandma) could care less. They seem to be only in for the money. They don't visit her for any holidays and maybe see her 1 time per year, if that. My Grandma comes by maybe 5 or less times per year and when she does come by it's for about 15 minutes. I see my Granny about 3-5 times per week sometimes more. She doesn't talk much anymore and I think it's because she went a little delusional and my Grandma Ophelia got a doctor to prescribe Haldol or something like that for her. When she's on it she sleeps most of the time. My mom started giving her Ginko Biloba and some days she will talk to me for over an hour which is what she used to do all the time.... Anyway, when Granny lived by herself for a few months during the summer a few years ago, her air conditioner broke. My mom told my Grandma Ophelia to get it fixed, but she kept stalling and my mom got ticked when she went to see Granny and she was in the room with the fan on her with barely any clothes on. So my mom called APS to report it and that's when they told my mom that if we made one more complaint about it... they would take over everything.

 

[stealth2]

It's really confusing trying to work out who's who as it seems like there are several people you're calling grandma. Who is taking care of her - where does she live?

You may also want to post over at prairielaw.com - they have an elder law board, and do look into an attorney who specializes in these situations.

 

[Skyangel667]

Sorry! I was trying to make it as clear as I could. There are several women involved. Granny is my Great Grandmother who has Alzheimers. Her daughter who is the power of attorney is Ophelia which is my Grandmother and my mom's mom. Granny lives with my mom and two sisters. Ophelia (Granny's daughter) lives about 30 minutes away and my Aunt Yvonne (the caretaker) lives with Ophelia (my Grandma). My Aunt is the one who comes over Monday through Friday to watch Granny at her house while my mom is at work and my sisters are at school. She leaves as soon as my mom comes home. I've gone over there during the day before and I will find my Aunt asleep on the couch... then she will wake up and ask me if I will stay so she can leave. She really doesn't like watching Granny and that's her only job!! I can't stand it and I need to find out what I can do since I'm second in charge (power of attorney)

I will visit that site, thanks!

 

[stealth2]

Yeah, I think you need to get a lawyer. APS doesn't want to deal with family squabbles - and this is what it's turning into. They're not going to force Ophelia to fork over money for a nurse, and if y'all are complaining that Auntie isn't caring for her properly (in your mother's home) - APS isn't going to sort all that out.