Mom with Alzheimer's says she's calling an attorney. Is this something I really need to concerned about?

We have POA ...
Both medical and financial. We received all the paperwork we needed to execute the POA

Well if her POA states that she "needs a doctors note declaring incompetency" before the POA appointed person can take over -- then unless you or whoever are the POA, she can make any decision she wants -- even a poor one.

I suspect she's calling attorney to see what her "rights are". So she has Alzheimers -- I would suggest that one of you speak with the doctor and discuss her behaviors, observations, concerns -- and get him to write you whatever letter you need so POA can make living arrangement decisions on her behalf.

ALZ doesn't get better -- so moving far away with sister or wherever probably isn't advisable and your aunt should be advised of the situation and what she might be in for -- and try to discourage mom from moving.

Maybe try to have rational discussion at a good time with mom and encourage her to go for a visit first and look around and "hey mom, if you like it, Brother Bill and I will help get you moved there and settled" -- that might satisfy her in the short term and in the meantime you just go on knowing she will be where she is and you take charge.

First consult with her lawyer and let him know whats up plus arm him with mom's medical record with ALZ diagnosis and incompetency so he knows he can't legally change any of her current records based on her demands. And maybe he can advise her to "not move at this time"; yada yada.

Good luck.

Oh dear! Conspiracy theories sure don't calm the waters, do they? Is Auntie losing her cognitive abilities, too? Do you or either of your siblings have a decent relationship with her? I wonder if you brought her into the discussion loop it would make her feel important and not so suspicious.

"Auntie, we each visit Mom twice a week, and we are trying to come up with some card games or board games she might like. So far she likes Hooks and Ladders. Do you remember anything else she liked as a child?"

Naturally you are not going to ask for her opinion on where Mom should live, but perhaps keeping in touch with her would help her relax a bit.

Geewiz she isn't in memory care yet. She is in Assisted living and is still capable of performing all activities of daily life. When she was home alone she was forgetting to eat and drink. She also couldn't manage her medication. She obviously couldn't drive anymore either. And...although she doesn't remember.. she herself said she was afraid to be home alone!

It doesn't help that her Sister is on the phone with her ....constantly filling her head with conspiracy theories. Saying awful things about my siblings and I.

yes, my siblings and I are all on the same page. We do have a letter from her Doctors saying that she is no longer competent to handle her affairs or to live at home alone. 

We are in control of her finances. So I don't know how she would pay an attorney.

I don't want to fight with her. I know she is scared and depressed. We want her to be happy... but she also needs to be safe. Which is such a hard balance!

To add to Eyerishlass' comments --- I have no idea of your Mom's capabilities, but by the time my Mom was in memory care, there was no way she would be able to call an attorney. So if this is true for your Mom, just distract her. If she asks you to make the call, 'you forgot your phone. Or the phone number. Or, it's a holiday. Or the lawyer is going to call you back, etc etc

I'm sure a lawyer would be delighted to take her money in return for advice. Is that too cynical? Hmm...

I should worry about it if it happens. And if it *does* happen, then you need to contact the lawyer and let him/her know in plain terms that your mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease four months ago and her mental competence is in question.

You're in that uncomfortable limbo where you have the dementia diagnosis but not the certified incompetence which would prevent your mother from entering into contracts or instructing an attorney. Actually - you aren't, your brother and sister are. Are they concerned about what your mother's getting up to?

Your mom has lost her ability to reason. Were she to move into an assisted living closer to her sisters I would guess that it would only be a matter of time before she began saying she wanted to come back. I wouldn't move her.

What does your mom think a lawyer can do? In addition, even if your mom did contact an attorney I would think it would become obvious to the lawyer that your mom is not competent. Many people with Alzheimer's can carry on a brief, shallow conversation but scratch the surface and the Alzheimer's becomes evident.

Also, it is common for people with dementia to want to move....somewhere. Anywhere but where they're at and that's not necessarily the assisted living or nursing home but somewhere where they're not vulnerable. Somewhere that will make them happy again. Some place they can decorate and call their own. Somewhere where they're not living with a cruel and progressive disease. Many people with dementia want to go home. It may be the home they grew up in or the home they raised their children in. But "home" is somewhere where they're not old, not sick, and where they have total control over their lives. It's a mythical place.