My MIL is still in the family home. 89, with MCI. Not bathing, diabetic, not taking her blood sugar, just injecting insulin. Not eating her Meals on Wheels. Leaving them on the counter for days. Ordering Hershey bars by the box, and shortcake with whipped cream. Having severe bowel episodes. Not cleaning up after them, refuses to dress or even wear underwear. Answers the door to strangers in really nasty nightgown. We have set up a nurse to come in 3 times a week to bathe her and set up her meds. She has locked them out, not answered the door, been very uncooperative, and abusive. Husband finally hid a key so said nurse could come in and help her. She then started putting a chair under the doorknob.
MIL is constantly undermining everything the he has done to help her stay in home. Recently she has had a set back and SIL (finally) has taken MIL to her PCP. Asked repeatedly to please sign the POA to activate it so we can keep her safe. Her PCP who has been her Dr. for 1 1/2 years told SIL that she can't go into AL, but would actually need a NH. Still, very oddly enough, the Dr. would not activate the POA. Since then, we have tried another Dr. in the region we are hoping to move her to...Where we all live, 180 miles away. That Dr. was much more intuitive and diagnosed MCI. (It was a good day for her.) (She had a classic case of Show Timing. Not sure if that's the correct term, but she is a PRO! )He would not activate the POA either. Claiming my Husband was a "Rock Star" and to keep doing what he was doing and just up the nurse visits to 3 times a week. He also stated that MIL has dementia, but is fully aware of her poor decisions and decides to eat wrong of her own free will. He could not activate the POA just because someone CHOOSES to make bad decisions. My husband just turned 60 and has not been in the best of health and would like to have more assistance from his sister. He took his mom to her PCP after she suffered complete hearing loss suddenly a few weeks ago. Her PCP tried to clean out her ear wax, only to send them to a specialist. (I have no idea how this "Dr" missed it on all of the visits she had had previously) Again, my husband walked out into the lobby and begged for some help because the PCP ( the Dr. who said that MIL is in need of a skilled nursing facility perviously) stated that it was "Out of her ability" to deem that my MIL was not okay to stay home alone. HELP!!!!!!!!!
I don't understand why a doctor needs to sign off on a POA. POA is a legal document drawn up by a lawyer. Like I said, you just need a letter from her doctor saying she is not capable of handling her affairs. The letter then goes to the lawyer and he invokes the POA with a letter.
Since you seem to be getting nowhere with the doctor, call Adult Protection Services and ask them to do a "well visit" explaing what you said here. They may be able to take her out of the home to be evaluated. If its found that she can no longer care for herself, she can go directly to a NH. If no money for her care, apply for Mediicaid.
Another option is to wait till she needs hospitalization. Then have her evaluated and directly to a NH.
If u get nowhere with APS then you may need a lawyer.