What can I do if my 82 yr old mother with obvious, possibly late stage dementia refuses to sign a HIPPA form?

Take her to the ER and tell them her symptoms and that she should be tested for a UTI (which she may actually have). You can talk to the discharge planner that she is an "unsafe discharge" and you're not her hands-on caregiver, plus she has been resisting any help. The ask to talk to the hospital social worker about next steps, possibly transitioning her directly into a facility. Make sure you bring your PoA paperwork everywhere you go and show it to everyone you talk to.

If she won't go to the ER with you, consider calling 911. Give them same story about a UTI, do not mention dementia as this is not considered a medical emergency and they may not come at all.

If you can't get her in for testing, maybe video her behavior and keep reporting her to APS.

I hope you can get one of these strategies to work.

She can't sign a HIPAA form if incompetent. My Moms DPOA was immediate, her Medical was not. I needed her PCP to declare her incompetent to invoke it.

Yes. Step away.
Let them know your opinion that she is more and more incompetent. After that, it will come to your proving that issue by calling APS to assess whenever she is released on her own recognisance.

Be glad you don't have to manage what truly is not manageable in anyway, an uncooperative and failing parent.

If you have no general POA in place then it is likely too late for that. In all honesty, be glad of that. She is now really subject only to the jurisdiction of the state and you will get a call, either from hospital or coroner. If the former they will be begging you to take temporary guardianship. If you are wise you will refuse.

You (or someone) should have more than just Medical POA. Your mother is going to need someone to take over paying her bills and making appointments, and basically, managing everything for her.
Who will not speak to you as medical POA? What are you trying to do, using your medical POA? You need to be present when she is admitted for medical care, to a hospital, doctor's office, or care facility. You sign the HIPAA document, as POA. Make sure you have listed yourself as a party to receive information.

If your mother is show-timing and acting as her own agent, you could just step back a wait. Eventually someone will notice she is not able to act on her own and will be receptive to you then.

Even if someone doesn't get POA to help mom handle her finances, try and work with her to make sure her bills are getting paid and she is not losing money to a scammer. She could get into a big mess pretty quickly.

You say your mother has obvious, possibly late stage dementia. Is this based on your observation? Has she been evaluated and diagnosed? Go with her to her doctor, and if that doctor can not make a proper diagnosis, ask for a referral to a neurologist. And go to that appointment as well. As her medical POA, you should be involved in her medical appointments and treatment, and learn what her meds are. And if she is not taking them properly, you may have to administer meds daily, or hire a trained medical assistant to go and see to it that she is taking her meds.
You can't simply throw your hands in the air. You must take charge, or resign as her medical POA. Or wait until you get a doctor's determination that she is incompetent, or wait until she has an emergency that lands her in the hospital.

If mother is driving, God forbid, disable her car immediately before she kills someone. With medical POA, you can get her placed in Memory Care Assisted Living without her consent once she gets diagnosed with dementia. Accompany her to all appointments to ensure she gets there with you driving, and so you can request formal cognitive testing. Living alone with dementia is not going to fly. You get to make these decisions with POA. It's your obligation, in fact, so you can't just throw your hands up in the air.

Best of luck to you.

If dementia is 'OBVIOUSLY,' then it doesn't matter whether she signs or not.
What you need is MD documentation indicating she has dementia, then you have the legal authority to do as is necessary for her well-being.

If she is considered of sound mind, she can do as she wants.
This is not a position any family member wants to find themselves in and unfortunately, it happens to many, if not millions (as these documents aren't drawn up when a person 'is' of sound mind to handle their own affairs - and know the importance of doing so).

When dealing with this situation at the time it is needed, it takes some time to get mental / cognitive evaluations - get the process going. You do the best you can.

It is important that 'you' (family member) track and document all behavior to have a record to provide to MD. Do not allow MD to 'consider her just fine' as you say you've experienced.
- Put everything in writing; you need a paper trail.
- What is she doing that could harm herself
- How is she NOT doing what is in her best welfare ? (because she can't or doesn't have the cognitive ability - to see / understand what is necessary to do.)

- While likely not legally binding, when you have a PAPER TRAIL and provide to MD, and they DO NOTHING, it is holding them accountable for what may happen moving forward, i.e., a person with dementia drives and kills someone ... or sets their house on fire).
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IMPORTANT:
You CAN get an independent psychological assessment and present to and work w MD.
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We, in this country - more than ever in our life time - NEED PUBLIC EDUCATION on what dementia is and how to prepare for this possibility - for our loved ones or for our selves - way before we find ourselves in this situation.

My recommendation at this point / situation:
1) Show documentation to MD why she is not of sound mind.
2) Get an attorney if you feel it is necessary (although they will need the MD authorization).
3) Call dementia Association(s) near you or national and ask them for support / how to proceed.

Unfortunately, your situation is what millions of Americans are experiencing now. Hopefully, many reading this will do what they can before it gets to this point.

It is very natural if not 'normal' for a person losing their cognitive functioning to resist; fear the unknown, and lash out at the people (usually family) trying to 'help them' at this time of need.

- Some are aware enough to know they are losing their cognitive abilities and this exacerbates their fears - of what's coming / the unknowns. . . . so they resist MORE STRONGLY.

- Do not scream or get angry with the person; approach with compassion and understanding (they are dis-connected with reality) and in their confused mind, feel they are fighting for their life / independence - and need / want what is familiar. They do not want to change. Change is scary.

See / respond from how they see / understand their world 'now' - NOT YOURS as they do not understand (this is when emotions are triggered in the worst ways and it feels to the person inflicted with dementia "it is me against them."

You show compassion and doing what you know is needed for their best welfare.

Gena / Touch Matters

KarlyJo: Retain an attorney.

And people wonder why healthcare is so expensive. I know a UTI is serious in an elderly person. My mother had an untreated UTI at a nursing home and she presented with stroke-like symptoms and we had to insist she be taken to the ER. Making a false report, however, to get an ambulance to take someone to the hospital isn't the way to go. And, if the emergency transport is billed to Medicare and/or Medicaid, that is fraud. There are serious fines and/or prison time for defrauding Medicare and/or Medicaid.

I stand by my earlier comment. Dementia isn't a medical emergency, and defrauding the government programs isn't correct. We all end up paying when people defraud these programs and cause costs to rise. If she has dementia, tell her you are going for a ride and end up at the hospital. She may never know the difference. And you haven't defrauded anyone.