Jeanette, Pam has had a LOT of experience in caregiving, and her posts are often precautionary, addressing things that might occur. I'm sure that was her intent - to alert Amervg of possible repercussions, especially since distrust can be a symptom of dementia.
I don't think the OP said her mom was delusional nor that she thought she was stealing her money. Many people are distrustful, child or not, old or not.
Too late for a POA, that has to be signed before she is delusional. Go for Guardianship. Get a lawyer and do it by the book, protect yourself from mom's delusion that you are stealing her money.
With my Dad, when his dementia was mild, I used the JUST IN CASE SOMETHING SHOULD EVER HAPPEN TO YOU GUYS angle. Let her know it changes nothing, it's just for "Down the road ". If she is truly incompetent you may have to seek legal guardianship.
If someone has dementia it depends on how their memory is at the time of wanting to doing a Power of Attorney. If an attorney deems Mom not of clear mind, she wouldn't be able to sign a Power of Attorney..... so you trying to get her to do legal documents wouldn't be worth the effort.
If she is of clear mind, the trick I used on my Dad was telling him how the State laws have changed and that he needs to get all new legal documents otherwise the State could take part of his estate.... that perked up his ears and he was ready to update all his and Mom's paperwork :)
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Hope this explains the issue.
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If she is of clear mind, the trick I used on my Dad was telling him how the State laws have changed and that he needs to get all new legal documents otherwise the State could take part of his estate.... that perked up his ears and he was ready to update all his and Mom's paperwork :)