What to do?

I’m sorry for such an impossible situation. In your shoes, I’d choose to guard my own health and wellbeing. I’d call the police once in a while for a well check on mom, I’d ask APS why they are content to let a frail elderly lady live in filth, and I’d call the SPCA to report the animal abuse happening at mom’s home. Then I’d go right back to guarding my own health and leave mom to it, sadly, some things are past our abilities to fix

Your own post to us is a bit garbled and this makes me worry re your ability to care for your mom as a competent POA. This requires a good ability to keep files and records and it is a legal requirement to do so.

I would call APS and describe this as you did for us, telling them that this is a senior at risk and in need and you are unable to help her due to your own disabilities.
Ask them to make a wellness check and to help provide care for her and tell you of options available to her.

If you can't prove she is incapable of caring for herself, then I don't know how you will be able to get guardianship. Then even if you do, sounds like she won't go without a fight unless you come up with a create therapeutic fib to get her into a facility (I'm assuming that's where she'd go next). Do you even know if she has enough money to pay for a facility? If not, then resign PoA and allow a judge to assign her a legal guardian and they will deal with her.

I'm so sorry for this stressful situation. I wish you better health in your future and peace in your heart about your Mom.

What do APS do when not let in? Anyone know? Just document that & move on to the next case?

What to do? Sigh. Hmm 😒
Keep trying to steer this or step away..? Or maybe something in the middle?
A position of 'Watch & Wait'.

Consider making welfare phone calls. Consider driveby welfare checks & look for anything really wrong (if you are local). If you know her neighbours, consider asking them to call APS for welfare checks if they don't see her about or have concerns.

All I know about folks that live this way is from some reading about Diogenes Syndrome & from the Hoarders TV show.

There appears to be delusions or rigid thinking, lack of insight, but these issues do not seem to 'fail' screening cognition tests. While a filthy environment may be considered self-neglect, it is not enough to warrant intervention. That bar seems to be set at *danger to self/danger to others*.

You may need to join the *Awaiting a crisis club*. If so, welcome.

You don’t list dementia as a diagnosis for Mom on your profile , so I fear that even with guardianship you could not force your mother to do anything . I could be wrong .

But I think without Mom having dementia , I would not seek guardianship , as she is able to make her decisions , even poor ones. Because of Mom’s stubbornness, I think I would also revoke POA and let APS take over.

I’m so sorry , what a terrible situation .