my mother-in-law (82 years old) is incapable of taWhat can we do if my 82-year-old mother in law is incapable of taking care of herself but refuses outside help or a nursing hoing care of herself and refuses outside help or a nursing home. what can we do?

I had the same situation with my mother. After getting POA I just took my mother over to an assisted living facility that I thought would meet all her needs and had to just leave her there. She was very angry with me for doing this to her and miserable for quite awhile. It took about three months before she stopped trying to escape. Now she thinks she has been there forever and that all these people living there are her good friends. At first she hated everyone living in the home. She thought that they were all old and disabled and that she didn't belong there. It was extremely hard for me to do but I eventually had no choice. Now as I look back I should have done this years ago.........she is so much happier than she has been in years even if she won't admit it.....good luck

Sounds like it's time for an intervention. Rally the family together and talk about it, be sure you're all on the same page in saying that she can't live alone anymore, then talk to her. Most of the time the 'right' thing to do isn't the 'popular' one. Gotta do what ya gotta do.