G
GoodDaughter
Guest
What is the name of your state? Florida
My father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease several years ago. At present, he is classified in the 'moderate' stage of the disease but is very highly functioning. His main problem is short-term memory deficit and the inability to recall names of people and certain things. He is 82 years old and in good physical health.
There is a long story associated with the turn of events that began in July when my mother passed away in Florida. To summarize, even though I had been named Durable Power of Attorney for my father in 2001, I believe my sister knowingly and with malintent coerced my father to revoke my DPA four days after my mother's funeral.
My father has been living with my sister since that time. I have had limited contact with him. On November 22, 2004 I received a phone call from her informing me that Dad had been admitted by her to a locked psychiatric ward pending discharge to a Nursing Home. The basis for his containment is her report that he has demonstrated that he is a 'danger to himself and others'. I met with my father at the hospital a few days later in the presence of the staff psychiatrist and the social worker assigned to his case. During the weeks that my father has been at the hospital, they have witnessed no such 'dangerous' behavior.
In August 2004, my sister returned to Florida with my father. While they were there, he signed a 'Declaration of Preneed Guardian', designating my sister as his legal guardian 'should he become incapacitated'. This document was filed in the County Clerks office. My father has no idea what this document was - only that she told him he had to sign it so that she could pay his bills.
My father reported examples of emotional abuse during his time with my sister and states that he was ordered to sign the documents that she put in front of him. He did not understand what the documents said nor the implication of signing them. It is his current wish to have me take care of him. I met with my father on November 26 and in the presence of his psychiatrist and the social worker he confirmed this. After hearing his words and believing that he is capable of making this decision for himself, the social worker assured him that he would not be released to my sister under any circumstances. My father is very happy at the hospital - he would rather live on a locked psychiatric ward than go back to live with my abusive sister.
Some background as to my sister's motivations for what she has done: at the time of my mother's death my parents had been in the process of selling their condo to move to an assisted living facility near my home in the North East. They completed the application and sent a deposit. All the money that they had, except for a small amount of savings, is in the condo and the proceeds from the sale were going to subsidize their income from Social Security to make it possible to live in Assisted Living. My sister, along with her current boyfriend, was vehemently opposed to this plan, believing that she was somehow entitled to the money and preying upon my father's financial insecurities during the time leading up to my mother's death. I should mention that my sister has a long history of mental illness. If necessary, there are many, many people who will attest to my devotion to my parents (and my sister's absence during all the years that they have been ill), including aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who are horrified at what she has done.
My goal is to reinstate the DPA and nullify the document that was filed in court in August so that I can move my father up here to the assisted living facility as planned. My sister is a formidable opponent. When she finds out that I am taking action she will stop at nothing to thwart my attempt to keep control of my father and his assets.
Any thoughts are greatly appreciated - do I have a big battle on my hands or does this seem pretty straightforward? Thanks for reading this long post.
C
My father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease several years ago. At present, he is classified in the 'moderate' stage of the disease but is very highly functioning. His main problem is short-term memory deficit and the inability to recall names of people and certain things. He is 82 years old and in good physical health.
There is a long story associated with the turn of events that began in July when my mother passed away in Florida. To summarize, even though I had been named Durable Power of Attorney for my father in 2001, I believe my sister knowingly and with malintent coerced my father to revoke my DPA four days after my mother's funeral.
My father has been living with my sister since that time. I have had limited contact with him. On November 22, 2004 I received a phone call from her informing me that Dad had been admitted by her to a locked psychiatric ward pending discharge to a Nursing Home. The basis for his containment is her report that he has demonstrated that he is a 'danger to himself and others'. I met with my father at the hospital a few days later in the presence of the staff psychiatrist and the social worker assigned to his case. During the weeks that my father has been at the hospital, they have witnessed no such 'dangerous' behavior.
In August 2004, my sister returned to Florida with my father. While they were there, he signed a 'Declaration of Preneed Guardian', designating my sister as his legal guardian 'should he become incapacitated'. This document was filed in the County Clerks office. My father has no idea what this document was - only that she told him he had to sign it so that she could pay his bills.
My father reported examples of emotional abuse during his time with my sister and states that he was ordered to sign the documents that she put in front of him. He did not understand what the documents said nor the implication of signing them. It is his current wish to have me take care of him. I met with my father on November 26 and in the presence of his psychiatrist and the social worker he confirmed this. After hearing his words and believing that he is capable of making this decision for himself, the social worker assured him that he would not be released to my sister under any circumstances. My father is very happy at the hospital - he would rather live on a locked psychiatric ward than go back to live with my abusive sister.
Some background as to my sister's motivations for what she has done: at the time of my mother's death my parents had been in the process of selling their condo to move to an assisted living facility near my home in the North East. They completed the application and sent a deposit. All the money that they had, except for a small amount of savings, is in the condo and the proceeds from the sale were going to subsidize their income from Social Security to make it possible to live in Assisted Living. My sister, along with her current boyfriend, was vehemently opposed to this plan, believing that she was somehow entitled to the money and preying upon my father's financial insecurities during the time leading up to my mother's death. I should mention that my sister has a long history of mental illness. If necessary, there are many, many people who will attest to my devotion to my parents (and my sister's absence during all the years that they have been ill), including aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who are horrified at what she has done.
My goal is to reinstate the DPA and nullify the document that was filed in court in August so that I can move my father up here to the assisted living facility as planned. My sister is a formidable opponent. When she finds out that I am taking action she will stop at nothing to thwart my attempt to keep control of my father and his assets.
Any thoughts are greatly appreciated - do I have a big battle on my hands or does this seem pretty straightforward? Thanks for reading this long post.
C