Are there legal rights to telephone access?

If I were receiving repeated unwanted calls I would block the caller's number on my end...not call the family.

You should probably look up state specific laws because in some states, you can’t just come in and lawfully take away a phone, obstruct the use of it or cause damage to it. In California the law applies to both landlines and cell phones.

His dementia I something I have never seen or dealt with. I have been a care take since 03 but his cognitive decline is obviously to those who spend a lot of time with him. He remembers numbers and names, but he doesn't remember who and what he said. He is manipulating, deceitful and still has just enough wit about him to be trouble. My aunt is the POA. He is rude and disrespectful to her as well as her husband who is the son on my grandpa. Grandpa had a friend call his lawyer to tell her he is being abused, held hostage and doesn't have any rights. He is a control freak and its only getting worse. He refuses to acknowledge his diagnosis because he doesn't remember the dr telling him. I explained to him that he doesn't remember because of his decline due to dementia. We had the phones ported to a cell phone in my aunts control. All he did was talk bout the phone all day long.

how does grandpa remember these people's phone numbers? If he has the numbers written down or preprogrammed in phone have them removed.

Take away phone book or little personal phone books. If he has dementia he soon won't be able recall these numbers

Who has POA. Have them call the phone service and have phone shut off. Tell Gpa something is wrong with the line. You will look into it. If he has Dementia he will forget what you have said so just keep repeating, you will look into it.

I am sorry, but I wouldn't appreciate constant calls from someone who can't hold a conversation or talking about something that happened years ago and has nothing to do with me. Not all people know how to deal with Dementia.

Make sure that you eventually remove the phones. Maybe a little white lie saying your going to see if they are the trouble. Out of sight, out of mind.

There is no legal right to have a telephone, unplug the phone and tell him there is a service interruption and you're working on it.

This is the family problem. Do not take grandpa's phone away, relatives need to just deal with it and appreciate the fact he can still use a phone. That will not always be the case.

Replace with a cell phone? NO! He would not be able to figure out how to use it. He needs his phone, your screwy and grumpy relatives need to turnoff their bells, ignore the calls. Just get over it and be happy the grandpa loves them and wants to keep in touch. He NEEDS his phone for his safety and wellbeing.