Care needs, but Attourney says there's no money for care, so refuses to activate POA?!

You can call Adult Social Services on 0344 800 8020. You don’t have to give your name.

It seems as if A is terrified that the situation is starting to unravel especially as regards the finances. Looks like A has had their fingers in the cookie jar once too often.

I’d call B‘s. GP. and tell my story all of it… They have a duty of care and can visit unannounced.

I have heard of a similar situation and it was the GP’s visit that started the care of a vulnerable person.

If B has dementia the GP and a mental health Consultant will be involved in Bs care.

I do want to contact SS with a Safeguarding concern, but how do I do it anonymously?

Germanshepherdsmum has given you a contact number.

I believe you can either call anonymously, or identify yourself and ask to remain anonymous. I'm sure Social Services are well-placed to deal with such types of calls - they know that sometimes anonymity is essential along with it being crucial they are contacted. People, if they were afraid of repercussions might well not contact them which I'm sure is why the protocol is in place - so don't worry overmuch about A - if you ask that this individual is not told that you alerted them, I'm sure your name will be kept out of it.

... and if, as you say, social services are already involved in some way - then A has no reason even to suspect you.

It's a horrible situation you're in, but B desperately needs your help.

this is a bit left field, but i'm trying to think of a multi-pronged approach.
the local fire brigade fit free smoke alarms for elderly and disabled people.
you could ring and ask them to do a visit, give best practice advice etc.
i did this for a friend and they responded.

esp if you mention that she has trouble using the phone; which is true, isn't it.
good luck.
do not delay, act today.

wearehourglass.org/action-elder-abuse-now-hourglass

Unfortunately neither the GP nor the fire brigade, as suggested here, could gain access as B is unable to open the door to them.

This is most definitely an Adult Social Care Safeguarding concern. You can look up the number on your local authority website.

You can also call the police to do a welfare check when A isn't around, but the issue is that B cannot open the door! I wonder if potentially they might break in?

I suspect A is fiddling with the money and is concerned that the income stream might stop if B went into care? Either way it is abuse and someone needs to be told!

that's my point; that the fire brigade, on finding the lady unable to open the door, might raise that as a safe-guarding concern.
it has obvious implications in the event of a fire.

Trouble is, they might just think she’s out. How A can sleep at night I don’t know.

Please follow the great advice on here and on zMonday call Social Services and outline your concerns. B sounds like a vulnerable person and a prisoner in her own home and not cared for adequately

Perhaps... I have no proof and don't want to say anything. B does sometimes say A is taking money from her, but I know A buys food for her so it maybe for that. When someone has dementia its probably common to think someone is taking money? I sincerely hope A is not, but its on A's conscience if they are.

Thanks GSM. I was waiting for Monday (today) as I didnt think anyone would answer over the weekend. I had to leave a message.

I think the fire brigade can access in an emergency, though it would take longer. If they had to break down the door to do a welfare check I dont know who would replace the door.

I literally have no idea how A sleeps at night either. I know A thinks she's doing "everything she can", but its never going to be adequate in that kind of situation. If B is fortunate she might get a one hour visit in 24 hours.

In the past when A told me there is no money for care I said that if someone has savings of less than 22k (I think?) they can get help with care bills, or she might need to sell the house to put her in a care home that can meet her needs. I gave various other options as I've had to help relatives with this already. A just won't do anything. A recent mental capacity test showed B to still have some mental capacity and she has turned care down in the past, so she may be contributing to the problem or refusing for her own money to be used to pay for care? Theres probably a lot I don't know.

Re keys, OnwardandUpward, my mother (with dementia) was the same. There was no question of financial or any other abuse, but she was often obsessive about locking up, but could never have found the keys in an emergency - she was always hiding them away - and of course forgetting where she’d put them. She hid the patio door keys so successfully that we never found them - had to get the whole mechanism changed.

The key business was a main reason why we realised she was no longer safe to be left alone at all, hence the hunt for a suitable care home. I used to have awful visions of a fire, and of her being unable to get out.

I’m so glad you have contacted social services. I hope they will resolve this issue. It’s certainly common for people with dementia to claim that someone is stealing from them, but A’s insistence that there is no money is, to me, indicative that they have taken money and are trying to prevent that being found out. Do try to look at the title to B’s home online - that will either give you comfort that she still has that asset to fund her care, or tell you the worst - which would be something social services need to know.

I wonder if A has managed to get B to sign the house over to her? Do as GSM says and check those title deeds to the house online.

This is a safeguarding issue Call social services and explain your concerns It's confidential

It doesn't matter whether she is locked in or cannot unlock the door because she doesn't know which key to use, she is still effectively imprisoned in the house in solitary confinement, often for days on end.

if she was in prison and she was treaed like this then the prisoner would have his solicitor taking the gvernment to court for the abuse of his human rights. You wouldn't treat a dog like this.

What does it matter whether social services knows who you are they can be asked not to mention you to this person's incarcerator.

If really worried about contacting spcial services, speak to Age UK.

'A' clearly has their sights set on inheriting 'B's wealth/House and in no way wants to have to start paying for Bs care, in what they deem to be their inheritance
Could you contact Bs GP to raise concerns ?

Please contact Adult Social Care and ask their advice. It may be that a Safeguarding needs to be raised. You can do this anonymously. As you say something is not right and B cannot continue like this.

I think you have a moral duty to call Social Services to ask them for a care assessment so follow up on that message if they don't respond. Can you imagine how you will feel if your friend leaves the cooker on or microwaves something too long or similar and can't get out of the house? Has your friend got a fall alarm? There are so many things that could be put into place with very little outlay to ensure she is safe. Social Services will also be able to arrange a Mental Capacity test which would allow B to discuss her needs directly if she passes.

I have an LPA for my mother and I understand the need to protect her funds so that she gets the care when she really needs it so I wouldn't immediately make aspersions about hands in the cookie jar. However, I would be concerned about the care. If you are really concerned about the POA, you can speak to the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). I have a friend who had a family member who insisted they had a valid LPA. However, that turned out to be a falsehood and the OPG were really wonderful about giving unbiased advice.

You contact adult services immediately. If she owns her own home she will have the means to pay for a care home. It sounds like the person with poa is not really doing anything much for your friend, step in before something dreadful happens.

Does B have a medical alarm? I have one and recently I had to use it because I had lupus, AF and Pneumonia. The ambulance arrived, I was admitted to hospital and because of my lack of mobility I saw two social workers.

I now have a cleaner sent in once a week and a lady who comes in and waits outside the bathroom whilst I shower twice a week in case I fall and it has made a big difference to me.

The hospital arranged it all so I am very lucky. I do Hope B can get the same kind of help. Also meals on wheels could be another option.

Good luck

Having your own home doesn't necessarily give you adequate funds to pay for help because B may not want to go into a home. However, the services can be paid for and a charge put on the house.

I asked about a falls alarm but my Mum had one and with her dementia, every time she fell, she didn't remember she had one. When the phone rang to check the service, she forgot how to answer it.