[WSBAPT] Intervention for Sibling Not Taking Care of Themselves

[Jeff Davis]

Listmates:

 

This is an ever reoccurring problem with older people with slight to
moderate dementia.  Client's 80 + year old sister lives in senior housing.
She has stopped bathing, rarely changes her cloths and eats sparingly.  She
has not seen her doctor in over 18 months.  Brother was able to get her to
sign a healthcare durable power of attorney naming a local professional
Agent to help her.  However, the sister refuses to accept their help.  The
Agent has now said it will not help until she "crashes and burns."  The
problem with that is, of course, her neighbors try to watch out for her and
buy her just enough food for her to survive, "the enablers."  APS
interviewed her and said she did not meet their definition of an alleged
incapacitated person so will not seek a guardianship for her.

 

Two options are for her brother to seek a guardian be appointed for her.
However, the sister will not cooperate, so not sure how a guardianship will
work.  The other option is to seek some type of relief under RCW 71.05,
dealing with mental health problems.  Have any of you dealt with that
statute?  How can anything be forced onto a person that may need help but is
with it enough to look good?

 

Jeff 

 

 

 

W. Jeff Davis, Esq.

BELL & DAVIS PLLC
P.O. Box 510
Sequim WA 98382
Phone No.:(360) 683.1129 
Fax No.: (360) 683.1258 
email:  <mailto:info at bellanddavispllc.com> info at bellanddavispllc.com
 <http://www.bellanddavispllc.com/> www.bellanddavispllc.com
 
The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged,
confidential, and protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended
recipient, any dissemination, distribution, or copying is strictly
prohibited. If you think that you have received this e-mail message in
error, please e-mail the sender at  <mailto:info at bellanddavispllc.com>
info at bellanddavispllc.com  or call 360.683.1129

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/wsbapt/attachments/20200522/9c6bad48/attachment.html>