What can I do when I’ve just found out my mom’s doctor has been prescribing Ambien for her for over 10 yrs?

I think we're missing something here. She may have a good reason to be on Ambien. How old is she? What's the dosage? Do you believe Ambien caused her dementia and falls? Why? First doctor wouldn't order what - a memory assessment? and that's why 3rd party doctor (but who is 2nd party?) was called in? By whom? If she's been in hospital, how did she get a safe discharge, or is she still there?

Get rid of the Doctor. If on straight Medicare you can go to any doctor that takes Medicare. If a Medicare Advantage check their network.

You need a neurologist for full workup. He can invoke the proxy.

Do you have POA for medical affairs? Are you on her HIPAA paperwork? Then you can call up the doctor and ask why s/he thinks long term Ambien is good for your mom. Make sure the doc knows about the recent falls.

Look, there are prescription guidelines. There are times when what the patient NEEDS is outside of what is recommended. In eldercare, there are sometimes no "good" and certainly no "perfect" choices, only least bad ones.

If the doctors/hospital have said that she can't live on her own anymore, your response needs to be "what level of care does my mother need at this time?"

You can add that you have no authority to place her or to direct her care because the POA has not been activated.

The hospital discharge planners should be able to direct you to rehab or whatever she needs next.

Just because she cannot live alone doesn't mean you need to take her into your home, or move into hers.

Please explore all the options.

My mother was prescribed Cymbalta, Omemprazole and lisinipril hydrochlorathiazide. sp? She has hyponatremia and those meds make it worse. She also was seen by a neurologist & took pain and anxiety meds. Last year she was hospitalized for critically low sodium. It was a fiasco and now she's mentally messed up, the neuro doctor referred her to pain mngt. Idiot