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My Friend is legally blind: needs bookkeeping, billpay, computer assistance

ScottTW
ScottTW Member Posts: 5
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in I Am a Caregiver (General Topics)
Hello Alz community. I am a Reno based CPA and have a friend (She is located in Reno NV) who needs assistance with bookkeeping, bill pay, computer assistance and reading her mail to take care of her personal business matters starting at once a week. Do you have any recommendations?

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  • Robert1320
    Robert1320 Member Posts: 15
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    Try your local Council on Aging. They are knowledgeable about available local services and State laws.

    See ncoa.org for more information.

  • SDianeL
    SDianeL Member Posts: 2,539
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    does she have dementia? Does she live alone? She may need more than bill paying help. Does she have family? She needs someone with DPOA and Medical POA. Or a court appointed legal guardian. It’s not safe for her to live alone.

  • ScottTW
    ScottTW Member Posts: 5
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    https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/258711#Comment_258711
  • ScottTW
    ScottTW Member Posts: 5
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    Hi Robert.

    Will do. Thank you for your suggestion!

  • ScottTW
    ScottTW Member Posts: 5
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    https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/258724#Comment_258724
  • ScottTW
    ScottTW Member Posts: 5
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    Hi Diane: She has been diagnosed with the beginning stages of Alzheimers. She lives alone and is very independent minded. I am the DPOA and HealthPOA. I am working on having more assistance at home with her. She has tried various companion care companies and has one company coming 3 times a week. She is beginning to need more care for her safety and minimize her growing anxiety. Her most current anxiety is billpay. She is legally blind in addition to her recent diagnosis.

    Thank you for your thoughts.

  • Victoriaredux
    Victoriaredux Member Posts: 68
    100 Likes 100 Insightfuls Reactions 100 Comments 25 Care Reactions
    Member
    edited November 22

    It may be helpful , for at least the getting things set up stage , to hire a professional care manager to assist you as DPOA/Med POA . They will be experienced in what types of care options there are.

    Most people find staffing an in home care environment to be the most expensive and stressful-what if caregivers don't make their shift. Your friend and client can't be expected to field those phone calls , remember them etc.

    With vision issues you may want to look at placement earlier than you may have thought - so that while more mobile she can explore and get used to the environment, meet staff and other patients.

    I'm puzzled that as DPOA you haven't taken over her bill paying and walled her off from outsiders that could scam her . Has the DPOA been triggered- is it active? Do you need to get a Doctor(s) note to make it be active?

    I get she is independent minded, some of that may be Anosognosia
    https://www.agingcare.com/topics/295/anosognosia -an inability to grasp her mental condition. In which case you'll need to work around her stated wishes to keep her safe. Safety is the overriding goal. Confronting her to get her to understand reality is pointless. You'll just have to work in the background to protect her and her finances.

    If you haven't perhaps talk to an elder law attorney - as a professional CPA, you could be held to the highest care bar of oversight. The attorney can also advise if you can bill for their and a case managers time while acting as her DPOA.

    Between an elder law attorney , a care case manager and your own financial acumen your friend should be well served . She is fortunate to have you helping her.

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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