In addition, how to get her to attend senior center?
Mom has been diagnosed with dementia after having a stroke 2 years ago. She is only 68 and I am 40. I am single and have to work. My sister and I can't pay for the nurse all day, don't have that kind of money. Mom finally signed POA, but she threatens to take it away, she always wants to run things and secretly make phone calls "thinking" she transacting business behind our backs. All our lives she was a very private person and kept secrets. Now we are having a time trying to transact her business. It's hard to get her to take her medicine at times. She lives with me and I am struggling with lying to her about things, but she is making it hard to get her affairs in order. How do I keep her from the bank? She use to own her own business and people don't know her medical issues and so she gets calls with referrals from people and she is telling them how she will be back in business in the winter. She has her own cell phone. Should I take that from her? She struggles some days on how to use it. She is in the early stages of dementia...still somewhat functional, but not to do her finances, she not allowed to drive, but we believe with daily recreation she can have some better days for as long as she can.
Even though you have POA, that does NOT mean mom can't transact her own business. That could be catastrophic in some instances.
Personally, I wouldn't take her phone away. Let her tell people she'll be back in business soon. I'm not sure I see the harm. Check it as you would a teenager to make sure she's not getting in trouble. It would be unwise to leave her alone all day without a phone anyhow.
Call her to remind her to take her meds. If she doesn't take them, what else can you do? As far as a senior daycare, see if she'll agree to try it out three times...once a week. She might like it, and, who knows? It might keep her little self out of mischief.
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