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Hi,

The best way to protect your mother if you believe she is being abused is to contact an estate attorney who is experienced in guardianships.

It is not an inexpensive undertaking, but if your mother is unable to take care of her own interests, a guardian can be appointed to make sure that her interests are protected.

D. WOODRUFF said:

I cannot contact my 87 year old mother because my sister (who never left the family home and never had a job and never had a relationship/husband) has brainwashed my mother against me. This sister is getting revenge against me by cutting me off from my mother and my children (because per the advice of social services, I called the police to report that she was abusing my father). This sister (my only sibling) has obtained the P.O.A. She is being paid by my father's business (dad passed away 2 years ago) $50,000 annually to drive mom to her MD appointments. My mom inherited his estate & business and holds all ownership rights. She won't even allow my mother to answer the phone. The last time I saw my mother was labor day 2009 (I brought the grandkids then). As a background, my sister abused my father (which was witnessed by the 'live-in' nurse & reported to the local police- who only interviewed my sister). The investigating officer believed my sister's lies and closed the case. My father denied the abuse to the officer (he was afraid my sister would put him in a nursing home which was his paramount fear). Yet he told me it was occurring and the nurse frequently called me as she witnessed it was occurring. I can only assume the verbal abuse and mistreatment continues to occur with my mother. With regard to her safety, what can anyone do to stop the cycle of abuse and exploitation (and forced estrangement)? The local police and local department of social services do not adequately investigate and simply sweep the valid testimony under the rug. My cousins (they are brothers) living nearby but do not want to get involved and I believe are silent accomplices (they know my sister won't let her see me or talk to me) but I am not sure. They are the managers for my father's business therefore they probably have a vested interest in not angering my sister. The county social services department simply said I should call the police to inform that my sister is not allowing my mother to contact me. That makes no sense because the police did nothing previously with my father (except to obfuscate the situation). I sick of the legal bills (everytime I had visited mom, her lawyer (also my dad's legal rep after he died) who send a threatening letter to my lawyer. I wonder if my sister is actually mentally ill herself because of her obsession of revenge. She could be bi-polar and/or a paranoid schizophrenic. If that is the case, she certainly is not fit to care for a frail 87 year woman who is blind in one eye and almost cannot walk. Someone- Please advise me.