Hello. My father lives in Florida and I live in CA. I have POA and have had his bills sent to me for payment. The problem is that he has access to an ATM and seems to be overspending. I don't know how to approach the subject of spending control without setting him on the defensive. So far this month he's taken over $2,000 from savings. How do I explain to him that if he keeps this up he will be out of money in short order without upsetting him. He needs to exercise some self-control but he gets really defensive if I question his spending.
I never had any issues with caregivers and money or bank statement left around the house. In fact, it was my Dad's day caregiver [he had 24 hour caregivers from an Agency] who alerted me that my Dad was keeping his checks and bank/stock statements sitting around. She would put them away in his desk. That is when I asked Dad if I could help him with his bills and he said yes. So I dragged home everything related to finances, and changed the address to my house. That caregiver was so relieved when I did that, as she had been fishing current invoices out of the recycling bin, as my Dad thought it was junk mail :P