Is it better sometimes NOT to have PoA?

[Orangesandlemons77]

In some situations could it be better not to have power of attorney for an elderly relative particularly if they are difficult or abusive?

Basically, if the house is owned by one family member (or a family trust) but occupied by another family member, then they'll put you on to a landlord policy. I don't know where the dividing line is, eg parents go to Australia for 3 months leaving 21 year old son living in the house, whether that counts as unoccupied or being occupied by a tenant or simply still occupied. When it matters, of course, is if something happens and you need to make a claim and the insurance company says "we're not paying out because you failed to tell us that the house was occupied by a tenant".

This has been so interesting. Thank you.

@MereDintofPandiculation

If she wasn't a self-funder, there isn't a lot of choice.

She is self funding. N Scotland if that makes any difference but I was not able to get her into a home until she was assessed as needing 24 hour care. She was under assessment for months. It was a chance visit from an OT who called out a GP who overruled the carer assessment that finally got her into the home.

Scotland does make a difference, I think. Not direct experience but in England people do go into care homes without being assessed as needing 24 hour care. Nursing home may be different. Our nursing home says that unless you receive the nursing supplement, you won't get access to the on-site nursing staff. But that implies they'd accept you as a self funder, but you'd have to get any medical needs separately.

OTs are great. Good to have one on your side.

If property I ersonally would get POA as others have said they'll sell it for peanuts 😬

I refused to have POA for my late DF. He self-neglected to the point of hospitalisation and had never taken responsibility for financial
matters in his life. There’s no way I could have taken it on, especially as his only relative. SS appointed someone.

You have to be really careful about the terms and conditions of the insurance. I looked into it during a house renovation (living elsewhere) and under the normal house insurance visiting weekly or even sleeping there a few nights a month wasn't enough as it wasn't lived in.

We had to switch to empty property insurance.

Thank you. I am discussing this with a family member who thinks normal house insurance will suffice.

Sorry to hijack the thread OP.

Oh dear. You have my full sympathy.

No, that is fine, I don't think mine gets it either.

I will not be a P of E for my mother as her memory is getting bad . Today she said she owed me money got it out her purse and put it back in . I said to her can you pass me the money and she starts screaming she had handed it over , how I'm lying , trying to trick her etc . I've totally had enough now.