My Mother has Alzheimer's Dementia and Wants to Continue to Handle Her Finances
by Shea
(Tennesse)
I have financial POA that allows me to handle my mother's finances. What I don't know is if I am legally obligated to return her checkbook is she requests. It is, after all, her money and she should be able to spend or squander if she chooses. I realize that my motives are not objective in handling her finances.
She has had her utilities shut off, spent money on things she did not need and was over or under paying the amounts on any bills by hundreds of dollars.
She asks me for her check book several times a day and has threatened to call the police and report it stolen.
Do you have any suggestions on how to handle this situation?
Shea
This is a difficult situation many care givers face. There is a simple solution to this problem.
Here is website that offers a solution to your problem:http://www.enasco.com/product/9719668C.
It is important to remember that you will need to try different communication techniques
between you and your mother as her disease progresses.
It is important to focus on an indiviudals abilities and strengths, not what they are no longer able to do.
If they can still write and want to attempt to pay checks, then this is a solution that continues to allow them to do that with out affecting their self esteem or destroying their financial status. It is a win-win for all involved.
Thank you for this question.
Diane Carbo RN
