To challenge this POA even though it would completely burn bridges with a parent?

[NameChange95]

Keeping it quite vague in order not to out myself. Elderly grandparent recently diagnosed with an illness and is starting to lack the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves. My parent has applied for power of attorney over their health and wealth.

My parent has a very bad financial history, borrows money all the time especially from this person (last time was over £5000 to pay off debt) and I’m genuinely worried they will spend all of their money and use it for themselves. My GP also could do with being in a home but parent won’t allow this because then his benefit money would be stopped, so I feel that because of the financial gain he is not making the right decisions.

What should I do about this?

I am very tempted to obstruct it based on this, however it would mean putting in a court application and it would completely burn the bridges between me and my parent, and my parent sees them more regularly because I live over 3 hours away so I don’t know how my GP would even react or want me to do this because it’s my parent who ‘cares for them’ (does a bit of housework and picks up shopping a couple of times a week).

I just don’t know if I can sit back and watch the wrong decisions being made based on money. I think I will offer to take over the sorting out appointments and housing side of things because parent never bothers chasing any of these things up, but there is no way parent would voluntarily give up control over finance and assets etc.

The person who needs/wants an LPA completes a form which must be registered with the OoPG to be effective.
If two parties are named, it’s on an equal footing unless the person designates someone to act whilst they have capacity.
The Court can refuse an LPA if it’s considered there has been coercion, that would be rare though.

What you are describing is financial abuse. It needs reporting to the local authority or police. That will be uncomfortable but is the right thing to do.

you could report your concerns to social services, re financial abuse, and for a care needs assessment, but as you say that risks putting the cat among the pigeons.
what about having a care-worker come in to make meals etc.
could you use some of that under the bed money.
i don't see how a proper needs assessment would deprive your parent of anything, or do they live with grandee.
if parent gets carer's allowance, they could still get that, even if grandee also has a paid careworker.
they are often doing different things; relative may be looking after appts, liaison, purchasing, planning, while careworker does hands-on personal care, including bathing, feeding.