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jwmayer Asked July 2020

My Mom is 84 years old and has no short term memory. Also, she has been taken financially advantage of. What doctor does she need?

BarbBrooklyn Jul 2020
JMayer, has mom signed the paperwork for you to be able to get information from her doctor? That could be a Healthcare POA or HIPAA form.

I think going forward it's important for you to have this.

Your mom must have a system for keeping track of appointments, since despite her poor memory, she got to this one!
gladimhere Jul 2020
Excellent point Barb, a POA or HIPPA release must be in place or no information will be released. They should have HIPPIA release at doctor office, mine even has a Durable POA online available to complete.
AlvaDeer Jul 2020
Barb is right. She should see her regular doctor. This doctor will get her to the correct neuro exam; that is the way to move to a diagnosis. The thing is that it is important now to have a POA for health care so that information can be shared with one chosen person. If your Mom suffers from short term memory currently, a lawyer would examine her without you in the room to be sure she understands POA, and you could get DPOA for financial (when needed) and POA for Health care documents. Do this before you see the MD because dependent on his wording, afterward it may be claimed she was too demented to do this document.
When this is done, take her to her own doctor and start there. You will be able to help her function, and function for her when she cannot.
If someone is taking advantage it is important to consider if this is a family member. If so you may wish to file for guardianship, as this person may file as well once he or she gets wind of the money train slowing, and any danger of it disappearing. If guardianship becomes a fight in court it is a real mess and can be upwards of 10,000 to clear it up, with occ. the judge deciding that NO ONE in a bickering family have guardianship, but that it be conferred upon the State to act in Mom's best interest.
So first things first. Time to ascertain if your Mother wishes you to act in her behalf should she be unable to for any reason. Then off to Elder Law Attorney to get the papers drawn up. Then to the doctor which will give you an idea IF there is dementia starting, what kind it is, and a sort of a guidemap to probable prognosis and time frames.
jwmayer Jul 2020
Thank you so much. I called her doctor today and the office said she had an appt today. I told the office what had happened and that note was delivered to the doctor before she saw her. I am certain her doctor recommended a neuro for her to see, but I will have to call the doctors office because my Mom will remember nothing about the appt. Thanks again so much!!

Jim

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BarbBrooklyn Jul 2020
Welcone, Jwmayer. Has your mother been diagnosed with dementia or some sort of cognitive decline? Does she have a doctor that she sees regularly and have you or she discussed this issue with them?

A neurologist is probably the sort of doctor mom needs to see, but a good check up first with her PCP would be a good place to start.

Who is taking advantage of your mother financially? Have you reported this to the police?
jwmayer Jul 2020
Thanks BarbBrooklyn!

Yes, she has a pcp that diagnosed her with dementia about a year and a half ago. She does see her regularly.
Unknown to me, I called her doctors office today and she had an appt today. I told the office person who answered my call the details and she forwarded it to the doctor before her appt. I’m sure her doctor recommended the next course of action but there is no way my Mom would remember ANYTHING! So I’ll have to call the doctors office again.

Thanks so much! Jwmayer

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