My Story

Mother has dementia-Watch out for others

Written by Anonymous

My 87 year old mother was diagnosed with advanced dementia 3 months ago with a score of 8/30 - she has also had paranoia and insane beliefs for many years. About 10 years ago she was befriended by a female bank manager from the northern Sydney area and also a close female friend of the bank manager who became a paid helper for my mother. Both of these women are in their 50s with husbands and grown families. Bank manager is a signatory on my mothers account and an executor of her will. About 12 months ago these 2 women deceitfully obtained enduring power of guardianship without my knowledge. Guardianship was also obtained contrary to guardianship rules.I had keys to my mothers house and these women had the locks changed about 12 months ago.My mother was admitted to hospital 3 months ago and after she had been diagnosed with dementia the 2 women and a solicitor were intercepted by staff attempting to obtain enduring power of attorney. Hospital legal team notified the police. The 2 women were also caught taping conversations with the nurses.They did not notify me that my mother was in hospital.When I found that she was in hospital I could not believe the deplorable state she was in. Apparently she had been lying on the floor for 2 days before 1 of the guardians found her.I lodged a complaint with the bank 12 months ago regarding my concerns with their employees unusually close involvement with my mother however there was no response.When I found that guardianship had been taken out I then contacted the CEO of the bank and received an immediate reply which was then passed on to their fraud investigation section.I have had a meeting with their state manager who said that as their employee had been a long term friend that there was not a lot the bank could do. He did have to admit however that there was a conflict of interest and that it was contrary to the banks code of ethics.It is interesting to note that guardianship was taken out on exactly the same day that I first contacted the bank. A very strange coincidence and amazingly the bank disputes this.I appealed against the guardianship order 2 months ago and the decision was that the public guardian be appointed for 3 months.As my mother has the financial means and contrary to hospital opinion she was sent home under the care of full time helpers.I have no problem with this decision if it is what my mother wants.This situation is to be reviewed late november.I had a 60 year old schitzophrenic brother who lived with my mother until his death last year.Shortly after the 2 women obtained enduring power of guardianship.I believe that these 2 women have had a long term plan and have manipulated my mother to turn against me.I have 2 brothers and father deceased and another brother whose whereabouts is unknown-we have had no contact with him for about 10 years.With the 2 women I have no evidence of fraud at this stage however their actions to date indicate their intentions are not genuine. My mother has assets of about $2million and I wonder if she was a pensioner would they be displaying so much concern for her welfare. Also they are not related to our family in any way.I would be interested to know if there are any other families who have had the same experience with unwarranted attention and intrusion from complete outsiders and given these facts would your suspicions be aroused ? Also according to the Hospital the Doctor who did the assessment stated that my mother would not have had the capacity to understand even 12 months ago what an enduring guardianship meant. Up to 4 years ago my mother and late brother lived 10 minutes from my home.This was convenient as I could call in and prepare meals for them. My mother then told me she had bought a house about 45 minutes fom me.Coincidentally this happened to be 5 minutes from where the bank manager works and lives. I hope this story is not to difficult to understand but as you probably realise it is very complex.