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My father has some form of dementia; he has aways had attitude and refuses to listen to suggestions. He has kicked EMS, aging, and social workers out of his home when they have been called to help. He argued with his doctor at last in person visit before covid and during two virtual visits since. He has been consistent with his mantra that he isn't leaving his home and his next move will be the cemetery. This has been going on for at least five years. Through any questions and interviews by professionals, he has not been ruled incompetent. I am POA but don't have the right to make him do anything against his will. I decided to respect his wishes about staying alone but his place is putrid. I take him groceries and clean the trash up but he questions every move I make so that is about it. I don't want anyone else going in there. Today he told me to get out and stay out.

Thank you all for your responses. I need to figure this out. I am an only child (although old) of an only child father. I did not assert or defy as a child and I believe that is much of my problem making the right decision.

I appreciate everyone's kindness,
Helpful Answer (3)
Reply to HelplessLonely1
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If your father has a dementia diagnosis and your POA is active, you can put him into LTC whether he agrees or not. You can also give permission for him to be medicated if he gets aggressive.

I was an in-home caregiver for a very long time to every kind of senior ranging from stubborn to psychotic. I never tolerated abusive behavior from any client. I find even the ones with moderate dementia could curb the verbal abuse and stubbornness with me. You can't show any weakness with these seniors that have IARS (I Am Always Right Syndrome) you coined that perfectly by the way. You have to be the alpha dog in the situation and maintain total control. Sometimes there has to be a bit of intimidation as well. I've been saying this for a long time. A person recovers a lot easier from a bit of intimidation that forced them to have their soiled diaper changed or to be washed up, or have a dangerous hoard cleared away than they will from the health issues caused by staying in filth.

If he told you to get out and stay out, then you may have to do exactly that to force him to accept the help he needs. Get yourself removed as his POA as well if you need to. This isn't hard to do. You go down to the probate court and do the paperwork and remove yourself. Your father can ask someone else, or he will become a Ward of the State.

You're wrong about one thing though. You not wanting anyone else going into the house is wrong. There needs to be other people going in there, more specifically people from Adult Protective Services (APS). Your father needs to be living in managed care now. The asinine stubbornness is not going to improve or lessen. Dementia guarantees this. He isn't living safely. You may have to let a crisis happen like a fall to get him Baker Acted and put into LTC.

You're in a very sticky situation, but you're not alone. You cannot give your father the care he needs. So others will have to.

I hope you know none of this is your fault. Your father will very likely have to be forced into care against his wishes. He's mentally incompetent and living unsafely.
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Reply to BurntCaregiver
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HelplessLonely1 Mar 20, 2025
He does not have an official dementia diagnosis. The most I could get was some cognitive impairment.
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Even if he had a formal medical diagnosis of cognitive impairment which would trigger your PoA authority, you will not be able to get him to do anything that he continues to mentally and physically resist. BUT: if you resign your PoA and just keep reporting him to APS they will be able to force him into appropriate care when the time comes and get him a court-assigned 3rd party legal guardian who will deal with him the rest of his days. This is what we had to do with my SFIL with Parkinsons (although he never had a PoA but he thought we should all be on-call to go pick up his 6'4" body off his floor at all hours of the day or night or out in public while being treated poorly and having no real power).

I think your Father is going to exhaust you in ways you cannot even imagine.
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Reply to Geaton777
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BurntCaregiver Mar 20, 2025
@Geaton

The OP can force the father into LTC as POA if his doctor backs her up because he's a mentally impaired adult living unsafely. He poses a risk to himself and others. Seniors get placed for a lot less.
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Read the POA and/or look up your state law on how to resign it. Then do. Then honor his wishes by leaving and not going back. This is not your fault, it's his. Call APS one final time and tell them that your father has kicked you out and told you to stay away, so you will be following his order. That way you are on the record that this is your father's choice which you are honoring. He can order groceries for delivery and take out his own trash, if he wants to. Then celebrate your freedom. Since you say he has always had a bad attitude, this is just him being who he unfortunately is, and he won't change at this age no matter what anyone tries to do. Some people really are happiest being miserable, as hard as that is to understand.
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Reply to MG8522
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Hey, do what he says. Get out and stay out! That's a free pass from jail. Stop shoring him up with food and other help. Then what happens happens, but he will have gotten what he wanted - not leaving his home until he's ready for the cemetery.

I feel sorry for you, considering what he's put you through. But I can't feel too sorry for him because though he may be sick, he's a mean old man who doesn't seem to like you very much. That's too bad because you seem like a kind, caring daughter.
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Reply to Fawnby
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BurntCaregiver Mar 20, 2025
^^^^EXACTLY THIS! ^^^^^ Leave him to it and give him his wish of not leaving home until he's ready for the cemetary.
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I would call APS just to get on the record you have tried to help but he won't let you. If its determined he needs 24/7 care, then place him.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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BurntCaregiver Mar 20, 2025
Well said, JoAnn. It is a very good idea to have it on record that the OP tried to help but the father's abusive stubbonness refused it.
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Respect his unhinged wishes and “get out and stay out” Every little kindness and help you deliver or do only serves to delay the time he will be judged incompetent. Harsh as it sounds, leave him to it. Don’t go over or take food. An event will one day happen that forces change. I wish you peace and am sorry it can’t be better
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Reply to Daughterof1930
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I would call APS. They will eventually attend with police or sheriff if the place is squalid.
If they say he is competent and it is his choice, then resign while he is competent, and never agree to be POA again. Let him know the emergency numbers. Let him know if this is how he choose to pass away, he will do it alone.

Eventually you are going to get "the call". It will be from EMS, Hospital, or coroner.
The sad truth is that at some point is it better to have him miserable in care another year, or let him pass in his own home? Do you really WANT now to handle this home, its sale, his placement against his will?
I would never be POA for an uncooperative family member. You will have to make your own choices in that regard for yourself.
I am so sorry.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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