How to help an acquaintance that is clearly having signs of dementia.

[RetiredHappy]

Recently in the Orlando area there was a case where the guardian that was appointed (who was also a council member, I believe) was stealing a woman's money and also stole her house. We also had a situation a couple years ago with a guardian who was changing people's DNR's to DNR without their approval or knowledge. They know for a fact that at least one if not more people died possibly without their permission because of this change that the guardian made.

APS is never the guardian. APS has social workers who will get the case to the court as necessary and the court will appoint guardians. The social workers are never the appointed guardians.

 

[robnplunder]

Wow, sounds like there have been issues for at least 10 years!

Agreed. Sometimes people close don't notice until it is too late (to get a good handle on the situation).

 

[robnplunder]

I'll tell you, just having a little interaction with us has seemed to make difference in his mental ability.
I hope it is just not that I'm seeing good days. He has been very receptive to all our help, but I pushed a little to far today when I suggested we get a dumpster like the stores have and throw out some of the trash, he doesn't have trash service because it is $6 a week! He loads it in his car and takes it to the county landfill, but clearly he doesn't do it often enough.

If he used to listen to music, playing his favorite songs can temporarily make a difference. I used to sing together with my mom over the phone. It's amazing how she still remembers some lyrics when she can't sometimes my birthday.

 

[Buckeye]

APS is never the guardian. APS has social workers who will get the case to the court as necessary and the court will appoint guardians. The social workers are never the appointed guardians.

Well, I guess the warning then is of entering the system because it can turn out very badly if no one is watching.

 

[RetiredHappy]

Well, I guess the warning then is of entering the system because it can turn out very badly if no one is watching.

The issue is with the appointed guardians, and they could even be siblings or children. The person does not need to "enter the system" through APS. Anyone can ask the court to be the guardian and prove to the court why they should be so. After that the guardian can abuse their position.

 

[Buckeye]

The issue is with the appointed guardians, and they could even be siblings or children. The person does not need to "enter the system" through APS. Anyone can ask the court to be the guardian and prove to the court why they should be so. After that the guardian can abuse their position.

This recent mess in Orlando was with a court-appointed guardian who was no relation to the elderly victim.

 

[RetiredHappy]

This recent mess in Orlando was with a court-appointed guardian who was no relation to the elderly victim.

Court-appointment of guardian abuse has nothing to do with APS. Anyone can ask the court to appoint a guardian for an at risk adult. The problem is with the guardians when there is abuse.

 

[Out of Steam]

My wife and I had brunch with a fellow hiker and his wife this week. My hiking partner was visiting in large part to check on the care of a lifelong friend of his. That man is in a situation where he, his wife, and the wife's brother, who is their backup executor/power of attorney, are all now disabled and unable to care for themselves or act to support the others.

The lesson seems to be that some or most of the people in those positions need to be younger.