Jeanne is right it does depend on the mental capacity of a person. My mother had been diagnosed with dementia, but it was very early and she realized there was a problem and it was going to get worse. I took her to an attorney to have her Trust updated after my father's death and at that time was given her DPOA because I took care of her and had cared for my father prior to his death.
The attorney asked me to leave the room and he spoke to her in private and recorded everything to make sure she understood what she was doing and was not being forced.
The person needs to be competent and understand what they are doing, if they are no longer competent, then it cannot be changed. If you want it changed you have to seek guardianship, which I was also given by my mother at the same time. This is a long and difficult process and can be expensive, so seek DPOA early on.
It depends on the person's exact mental capacity. Many persons are fully competent to handle this kind of transaction in early stage dementia. Can this person understand the concept of naming someone to act in their behalf? Can they understand the consequences of changing the POA?
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The attorney asked me to leave the room and he spoke to her in private and recorded everything to make sure she understood what she was doing and was not being forced.
The person needs to be competent and understand what they are doing, if they are no longer competent, then it cannot be changed. If you want it changed you have to seek guardianship, which I was also given by my mother at the same time. This is a long and difficult process and can be expensive, so seek DPOA early on.
Here is our expert's take on what is needed:
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/elder-cant-sign-will-trust-power-of-attorney-153521.htm
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You can contact an attorney to find out what you can do about it. If it you who got taken of then call the original attorney...