Next of kin suffering dementia

[auzzie]

If you have a next of kin that suffers from senile dementia and you do NOT apply for any sort of power of attorney, does the care home/social services have the right to take the payment for her care from you? Even if she has her own state and private pension??

[bednobs]

how would they take it from you unless they had your bank details?

[ACtheTROLL]

no not from you - they can force sale of her house and take savings though

contact the alz charity - they will advise

but you should get that power - it makes your life much much easier

[tamborine]

next of kin can be anyone.....return the bill to care home as they are now NOK

[auzzie]

Thank you for your replies. This is for my mum in law, who's 83 year old sister has senile dementia. She has been placed in the care home and someone from "help the aged" and the care home, have both told her that she will be liable as next of kin. I am currently helping her to complete forms for a "Deputyship" as we were informed that this is what we needed to do by the office of public guardian. We had previously been advised to apply for enduring power of attorney by the OPG which we subsequently found out (after 3 mths) was the wrong forms. It just seems like a whole lot of filling in forms, in triplicate when there is only a state pension and a small company pension to worry about. She does not own any property. However she does have personal belonging, furniture etc which my mum in law has been told she cannot touch until she gets the necessary permissions. We do not think any of her property is of any significant value but she has a lot of it! The landlord says that they will charge my mum in law for any removal costs if she does nothing! I told her to let them try it.