This has been a total awful day!
I flew to California from Montana this last weekend to visit my Aunt and have a sit down with her friends.
We all explained to her (for the hundredth time) that her home has been sold and that she is now in her new home. I put up a huge visual aide stating as much. I know it's early, but it doesn't seem to have had any impact (she has dementia).
I am gathering together everything I can to do her taxes. I have come to realize that this is so much more involved than I imagined.
My brother took care of clearing her house after we sold it. I have asked him to get last years tax returns to me as well as a copy of the trust . He is the executor and I am the POA handling all of the financial stuff.
I totally feel like I'm in over my head!
Even though I have done everything above board, I am terrified that while I am doing everything I can to take care of my Aunt, Somehow this is gonna come back and bite me in the butt. I thought I could handle this on my own, but I'm thinking I need an estate attorney. Any advice??
As for explaining, unfortunately, with dementia, they are too impaired to understand or remember things. It takes a lot of patience.
All the best, take care
It is always good to have an elder law attorney on board for those tough legal questions.
Glad's idea of a CPA is a good one. Because I feel they still work for you, specialize in facts, whereas most attorneys will take over a case, on their timeline, and you have to pay for their time to be updated. Not always a relief.
So, I personally have survived by having a few trusted friends who share info with me, and many caring people on AC even when advising others, I learn from them.
As for filing taxes, if no money is expected to be owed, take advantage of the extensions to file. That's all I got. I could be wrong, some could misinterpret my advice, some will disagree with whatever I say. I am not an expert at anything.
Here are some little tidbits I use to console myself:
1) What can be done by paper, can be undone by more paper.
i.e.: If you file the facts wrong, you can later get help to file an amended tax return.
2) No good deed goes unpunished.
i.e., if you expect this strange occurrence, it amazes you less.
I totally understand the terrors. One thing I find useful is to consolidate assets as much as possible, and do all of her financial transactions from the consolidated account. Good for record keeping for taxes and insurance purposes, and simpler for whoever writes the checks.
She will gradually adjust to her surroundings, and the time frame for that to happen will be hard to determine.
If she is hostile or unpleasant to you, try hard to not be offended. Also with time, you will adjust to the fact that she isn’t the woman whom you knew in time past. Accepting her as who she is now will be easier for both of you.
I can literally communicate with my LO and respond to the same comment 20 times in 10 minutes as though each of the times was the first.
If she’s oppositional, try to let her comments go. There is nothing in it for either of you to attempt to correct her or try to change her mind. Distract, change the subject, defer.
Learn to love her in her new self. So tough to do but again, good for you both.
As the saying goes, you’ve joined a club that no one wants to join.
Remember too, that you will often be making decisions on her behalf in which there are NO GOOD SOLUTIONS. You will be required to make the best choice among all the bad ones. Do that without guilt.
Let us know how things are panning out for her and for you. Someone who’s willing to listen is always around when you come here!
You put up a huge visual aide stating that your aunt is now in her new home?
What on earth does it say?
Aunt. I want to go home.
You. We will go when the doctor releases you, look at these adorable kitties on my phone. Aren’t they sweet?
Do not continue to try to convince her of anything. It is stressful to you both. She can not take it in.
About the taxes. So great you have last yrs taxes as a guide. Turn it all over to a CPA.
Good luck today.