Seeking advice - Dad is AWI with no POA

mizelle

Hi all,
Not sure if I'm posting this in the right place.

I'm dad's next of kin.  No living siblings. He has gone into hospital and been diagnosed with dementia, possibly Alzheimer's.  Social work have assessed him and decided he is to go to local care home. 

I have no power of attorney.  Dad has no property, investments or complex financials.  We live in Scotland.  Do I need to apply for guardianship or can I deal with cancelling his home tenancy and utilities etc. without it?  Also can I change his address and have his mail sent to the care home or to my house?

Not sure what to do.  I understand guardianship is costly and will take several months to go through so would like to avoid this if unnecessary.

If anyone is able to advise I would be very grateful.  Happy to answer any questions if something isn't clear. 

Savvy_Sue

Sorry for the situation you find yourself in.

I don't know how things are different in Scotland, but in England I believe the local authority would apply to manage Dad's affairs if you did not. 

Does Dad ever have 'capacity'? Are there times of day, for example, where he could understand and sign documents?

You might find helpful information from www.ageuk.org.uk › scotland

Web result with site links

Age Scotland | Working with and for older ...

mizelle

Thank you.

I have meeting with social work next week so will ask what they will be managing.  Will also look at those links. 

He really doesn't have a lot of clear moments.  His deterioration was quite rapid in the past few weeks.  It's devastating, but as I'm the only family I need to put my big girl pants on and deal with all the practicalities before I can process the situation and allow myself to feel upset. 

wolfehouse

Social work may ask if you wish to apply for guardianship. They often prefer for family members to take on this role.
https://attachment.outlook.live.net/owa/MSA%3Awolfehouse%40hotmail.com/service.svc/s/GetFileAttachment?
id=AQMkADAwATE0OTQwLTUyNGQtMjNhMS0wMAItMDAKAEYAAAPcA60rB1l3RrroQS7SnbsGBwAy3a9EUsmkR7eyPupyllwEAAACAQwAAAAy3a9EUsmkR7eyPupyllwEAAS%2F84ypAAAAARIAEADRso6lqpKAQ6AtsloiN9X%2F&isc=1&token=eyJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiIsImtpZCI6IjU2MzU4ODUyMzRCOTI1MkRERTAwNTc2NkQ5RDlGMjc2NTY1RjYzRTIiLCJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJ4NXQiOiJWaldJVWpTNUpTM2VBRmRtMmRueWRsWmZZLUkifQ.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.hQfvsyKjjHQ3Ah8UVr3SQKMcrUMJtOEQYNa151e2_YaZsQ4lUa5Y6OjelCgpSKvMjhCmKK5O3u9rCxi_NYosH92u0XLMoHzlahhEWbGJlSnBnRU4AdPIBwtqVJ0qaT0_IetnMW6dhNPxmn51OspV-isHloYo_OmLCq_JzlgDBagYmFAeOs2WdVVtyLsp0Pp-IPbiNC3LMQfrmGlw1YrBlMfCnl2svpXSbwi-7vn3Cbm9yx0ZXkSRAUYJ8rNF5JMVnOhEWbnbs6GJE9IDCpSc_Ifrn74bW3jsD1kZlyLEXvbBTWROSZ-gRMy9Zm8512IETkJBgDKW3aICJMLkfRQcEg&X-OWA-CANARY=tQWj3QCRYkanhRn3voPru5A8lVVKidgY5TIffLyVn8gxaTqbV_AkNgoAw2U4KJrXw-EZa8olnFs.&owa=outlook.live.com&scriptVer=20201109002.09&isDownload=true&animation=true
you can ask for financial guardianship or welfare guardianship or both which then let’s you have full control of their affairs (in theory) with social work taking an oversight role to make sure it is carried out properly and in their best interests.
however capacity can be fluctuating and a person can have capacity for some decisions and not others... so you have to be sure it is worth the cost of legal process (which could be every 3 years) and the responsibility (you are answerable to social work).
lots to think about and decide.  Good luck.

mizelle

Thank you.  😊