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My sister and her husband live four hours from me. They are both 85 yrs old and have serious health issues, although he still drives. He doesn't seem to see or acknowledge my sister's fragility. He even took her home from the nursing facility against medical advice. (In this case, there are some issues that support the removal, but not just showing up and leaving the facility.) He has allowed his two sisters-in-law to check up on them, but the husband does not want any outside assistance, such as home health aides, etc., coming into the home. His sisters-in-law describe him as a stubborn, spoiled child who refuses to listen. He is not capable of managing the needs of the house nor the medication requirements for both him and my sister.
In the meantime, I'm trying to find some time to take off work and drive up to relieve them for a few days. How do we convince the husband to let her get the care she needs? Is an eldercare lawyer the answer?

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Even if you have POA, nothing you can do much.
I agree about the guardianship. However, I'd tread lightly with that. You're stuck with it.
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Reply to Tiredniece23
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If you don't have POA or guardianship you cannot do anything. Guardianship is expensive and sis needs to be incompetent to make her ownchoices.

If you haven't called APS, see if they can go in and evaluate the situation. I am surprised the NH allowed him to take her home. They could have claimed "unsafe discharge" if they felt her husband could not care for her.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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No, not unless you have guardianship or conservatorship.

Is your sister of sound mind? Can you provide the police with support that abuse and withholding of medication is occuring for them to support an immediate APS intervention? You can also contact APS with your concerns but that will be a long process.

Your best bet is to have a hospitalization occur and then a discuss your concerns with the discharge nurse and social worker and they may convince the husband to place your sister in a nursing home.
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Reply to AMZebbC
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She can make her own choices if she has the mental capacity, does she want to go into care? If she does not and he is legally acting as her substituted decision maker there probably not a lot you can do unless you are willing to battle it out in court.
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Reply to cwillie
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