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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel uncomfortable about this

454 replies

user1471558723 · 20/09/2017 14:51

My mother is in her late eighties, she lives alone and looks after herself. I live some distance away but speak to her most days. I do her shopping and visit her once or twice a week.
She attends a craft club once a week, it's attended by people of all ages.
A much younger lady began dropping my mother at home each week, this then developed into her offering to collect my mother. This lady let's call her Anne is very kind she has according to my mother an unsupportive partner, a large family, primary school age children, grown up children and grand children. She looks after them all and does not have a job. Anne also looks after her elderly father who has terminal cancer.
I was delighted when Anne offered my mother regular lifts to and from the craft club. But now the friendship has intensified. Anne is visiting my mum several times a week. She is "helping" my mother with all the administrative work that I used to do, sorting out insurance etc.
I've told my mum there is no need to involve Anne in all this as she obviously is a woman with commitments of her own. My mum insists Anne wants to do everything she does.
My mum is very well placed financially and reading between the lines life has not been so kind to Anne.
I would really like to think that Anne is a lovely lady who has found a friendship with my mother despite the 45 year age gap. I'm just a bit uncertain and would value other people's opinions.

OP posts:
Pengggwn · 20/09/2017 16:09

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Abbylee · 20/09/2017 16:10

Your mother is not an oasis but an opportunity. If she is as kind as you are, she is an easy target.

lizzieoak · 20/09/2017 16:11

Penggwyn, you don't apply to court for a POA when the person is competent! It is something a competent adult agrees to in the knowledge that their competency may decline in the future or that they may be hospitalized and need someone to deal with their paperwork while they are not able to.

Applying to the courts would be a rare thing and need a medical diagnosis of dementia/stroke/Alzheimer's etc.

Pengggwn · 20/09/2017 16:11

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Pengggwn · 20/09/2017 16:12

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opheliacat · 20/09/2017 16:13

Peng seriously, what is wrong with you? Hmm Suggesting cameras as a security measure and you seem to thimk smuggling them in?

SirVixofVixHall · 20/09/2017 16:14

Pennng- No-one here has suggested applying to the court for control over a bank account for someone competent. The courts don't grant it under those circs anyway so it would be futile. POA is mostly used on approval or at the request of the person concerned. I have twice had POA and it was very helpful to my much loved parents. It actually helped them keep autonomy, rather than taking it away.

LaughingLlama · 20/09/2017 16:14

I would be concerned too. Im surprised that if Anne is a genuine friend to your mum that she hasnt picked up on your comments/brief conversations herself already.

Most people in Annes position would recognise relatives/family may be uncomfortable with such involvement in financial affairs etc.

The fact she is eithet not picking up the signals or ignoring them is a concern.
I think i might try being a but more straightforward/blunt. "I would prefer it if you didnt because I always deal/sort that out for mum"
Its a tricky situation.

Gemini69 · 20/09/2017 16:15

I don't trust anyone... certainly not when it comes to finances... Flowers

dobbyclub · 20/09/2017 16:16

Apart from anything else, I'm slightly baffled how someone with "an unsupportive partner, a large family, primary school age children, grown up children and grand children. She looks after them all and does not have a job. Anne also looks after her elderly father who has terminal cancer has time to visit ("sit and relax") with your mum several times a week?

Does she seem like she's busy the rest of the time, like she visits for a set amount of time then has to get back for other commitments? This seems really off otherwise.

MrsPottsTeaCosy · 20/09/2017 16:16

I would be suspicious, if (as pp have pointed out) Anne has all these demands on her time then how can she spend so much time with op's DM and get so involved in her life? Doesn't add up to me. Financial abuse of the elderly is all to common. I used to be a home carer and befrienders of the elderly and vulnerable was something we were told to be aware of and loook out for as a safeguarding concern and relevant agencies needed to be informed, as part of our duty of care towards our clients.

GoldenFlaps · 20/09/2017 16:17

Power of Attorney is a good idea for everybody - who knows if you are going to be left brain damaged by an accident or become suddenly ill. They're not just for special occasions or because you don't trust someone's new friend.

And no, of course the OP's mother shouldn't be pressurised into granting one but it doesn't have to be the OP who is granted it, it can be anyone the mother trusts implicitly.

Pengggwn · 20/09/2017 16:18

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MrsRhubarb · 20/09/2017 16:18

I think discussing POA with your mum is a very sensible idea, regardless of whatever the situation with Anne turns out to be. There are two parts to it, one for Health and Welfare and another for Finances. POA allows you to make decisions on her behalf if she is unable to do so in a variety of situations, and it is so important to get these things in place before you need it. My DGrandma set it up years ago with each of her children named. She still manages to live and function independently most of the time, but it is reassuring for her and us to know it is in place should it be needed.

SirVixofVixHall · 20/09/2017 16:18

Oh and in both cases we suggested it. The suggestion didn't initially come from either parent, I don't think it had occurred to them. They would have seen it as extra hassle for us if it had. However when it was suggested both of them realised that it made sense. Thank God for that in Mum's case or she would not have had enough money to pay for the care that she needed later and she would not have been in as nice a place as she was.

Jux · 20/09/2017 16:19

I think I would tell Anne that these are your business and you do these jobs. Not that she needn't do them, but that she mustn't.

JaceLancs · 20/09/2017 16:19

Whilst I would be wary I would also like to say 2 of the closest friendships I have had have been with 2 much older ladies who were/are much wealthier
One had adult DC who lived hundreds of miles away - I helped her with all sorts of things over a period of many years and the most I ever accepted in return was the odd coffee or fiver towards petroleum
Sadly she died a while ago - I helped her daughter sort out her effects and when she asked me if I wanted anything of hers appeared quite surprised that all I wanted was a photo of her mum that she had on display as it was a better one than any I had
I'm still friends with the other lady and hope her family are not suspicious of me! I even visited her in hospital recently when none of them were able/bothered

SingingSeuss · 20/09/2017 16:19

Take a day to spend with your mum to go through what needs doing when. Plan it into your diary so Anne can't get to it first. Get your mum to change bank accounts and explain to her the importance of not sharing this information outside the immediate family. Then have a chat with Anne and let her know that you have all house related issues In hand and if she did have access to bank cards maybe arrange a system where your mum either used cash or transfers money. In the days o. O line shopping there's no real need for Anne to be picking anything up for her. If Anne persists then worry.

Pengggwn · 20/09/2017 16:19

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SirVixofVixHall · 20/09/2017 16:20

Agree with pps that setting up POA before one needs it is a very good idea.

Pengggwn · 20/09/2017 16:20

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user1495832265 · 20/09/2017 16:22

YANBU OP. The involvement in the admin stuff is worrying.

Hard to tell if some of the commenters on here are genuinely naive or just GFs!

Wheresmytaco · 20/09/2017 16:22

Or maybe some cctv cameras up.

she's a an adult not a child, you can't put a nanny cam in her house Hmm

Jux · 20/09/2017 16:22

You might be able to tell Anne that she is making herself open to being accused of having undue influence, if anything went wrong. Try putting her off being so helpful, but encourage her to spend the time with your mum just being there, not doing admin.

Knittedfairy · 20/09/2017 16:24

I think this is a safe-guarding issue too; someone upthread mentioned the council safe-guarding vulnerable adults team. It would be worth you contacting someone in your mum's area to see what their take on the situation is.