How do we tell her we're taking over her finances?

2 answers | Last updated: Apr 16, 2012
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An anonymous caregiver asked...
Does anyone have advice on an elderly parent being the victim of sweepstakes scammers? Our Mother has given thousands of dollars away in hopes of the promise she'll win millions! We have recently gotten Power of Attorney and are facing telling her in a few days that she will no longer be writing checks. This will crush her - plus send her into a rage! Need advice from others on the Best way to phrase it and help from others who have found a way to stop the mail and telephone scammers. Anxiously awaiting answers, ameppright
 

Answers
Caring.com User - Carolyn  L.  Rosenblatt
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Carolyn Rosenblatt, R.N. and Attorney is the author of author of The Boomer's Guide to Aging Parents. She has over 40 years of...
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answered...

Telling your parent she is no longer in charge of her finances is always a difficult subject. There are good approaches that work. First, the person who is most favored, See also:
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closest to her, or most trusted should be the one to broach the subject. If your family members do not feel up to the task, enlist the help of her attorney, if she has one, as that person can explain the power of attorney document,and may have prepared it. The parent's physician, if available, can be "the bad guy" if needed, to advise mom that she has changes to her brain that make this necessary from a medical point of view. If you are going about this on your own, I have written a booklet on how to take over management of an elder's money, which talks about this in more detail, and gives you further specific advice. It's called How to Handle Money for Aging Loved Ones, and it's available in downloadable format, or in print at AgingParents.com, my website, or on Amazon.

 

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kathleen in las vega answered...

I went thru this already---here is what i did-- stopped payment on last five checks in checkbook first- then eventually all the checks but let mom keep the checkbook-- got bills paid by credit card and auto pay on credit card with online viewing of bill by me plus email alerts on charges over $100--also got lifelock and privacy assist thru bank of america--for the rages- i swim laps--hang in there you are not alone love from kathleen in las vegas

 

 
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