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I am taking mom to the doc next week. She has not been in 4 years and her dementia has really progressed.
I was told by the local Alz. Assoc. rep that I should ask the doctor for a form that he signs declaring Mom incompetent. IS there such a form? I was told I would need this when I see an attorney to get some type of POA or ??
Mom always intended to set up POA, etc., but kept putting it off thinking she "had time". Thank you, Jules

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I have a health care POA and durable POA for my dad. The health care POA has not been activated as the health professionals say. He needs a mental exam by his doctor witnessed by another doctor to state his is incompetent. Then the health care POA will be activated.
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57twin, that doesn't sound right. The notary is WITNESSING the signatures after having first reviewed the ID of the parties signing. I think you have things backwards. The person giving the durable POA would have his signature notarized. If that person then is found incompetent by the doctors then the person given the POA would step in to take over. If you are not competent to make a medical decision for yourself at some time, you are also in no shape to decide then to give POA at that time either. Are you saying the doctors signatures need to be notarized? Not likely, something on their letterhead should be enough.
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From the discussions I have had it need to get my fathers health care POA activated which is done by an exam done by his doctor witnessed by another doctor and then notarized.
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A declaration of incompetence would not come from the family doctor, most states require a Neurologist and/psychiatrist to do a formal evaluation of key skills and file a report to the family MD.
As stated above, once they are incompetent, they can't sign ANYTHING. So if she is incompetent NOW, you have to seek Guardianship in court.
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I second that. No attorney is going to give you power of attorney if anyone puts in writing that your mom is incompetent and neither will they do so if you or someone else mentions that your mom is incompetent or has dementia. According to our attorney, such forms can be used to go for guardianship but of course, we had to get such a form from our attorney because although the doctors says they were going to do one, they could not produce one? If your mom agrees and signs for guardianship $1500 is attorney fee and if mom is not willing to sign $2500 but possibly more depending on length of case. POA $150. We got those quote.

I hope it isn’t so, but it sounds like you are well on your way to getting the run around.
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I agree.. If you show up at the Attorney's office with a letter stating her incompetence there is no way he'll process any POA's.
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Ask them again as I think you got something mixed up. Your doctor may or probably does not have a form to say that someone is incompetent. If someone is already incompetent they can't be signing a Power of Attorney then. It's too late. A person gives POA to someone, you just don't take some form and go get it. I find it somewhat amazing that a dementia patient hasn't been to a doctor in 4 years. If you are now stepping up to care for your mom please get all the info you can from the doctor about what kind of dementia she has and what to expect as she progresses. I think you have a lot of catching up to do.
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