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The person that has power of attorney does not purchase items that are needed and also leaves an elderly person (bed ridden) alone. Is this illegal? What can be done?

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Let us ask you some questions in order to answer this very brief post:
1. How old is the elder being left alone
2. Is the elder being left alone completely demented? That is would it be impossible for him to call for help on the telephone, to call 911 or to call the person who lives with him?
3. What relationship is the POA to the elder?
4. Does the POA live with the elder? If so, for how long.
5. Other than this elder being alone, what other signs of neglect are you seeing.
6. Most importantly, what relationship are YOU to the elder you are so worried about.
Have you offered help? Do you dislike the POA? If so, why? Is the POA a relative of yours?

Now, often people will post us these brief questions and we knock ourselves out with answers to find that we have no facts; they were purposely or inadvertently withheld from us.
IF in your heart of hearts you feel that this elder is being neglected and is unsafe currently, and you have honestly brought your concerns to the POA, then feel free to call APS in your area and ask that wellness checks be done. Tell them your concerns and supply them with evidence of unsafe treatment.
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Is the person having care withheld or refusing care? I would discuss with POA in a concerned matter and you may get a better understanding of the situation. If the person is of sound mind, they have the right to refuse care until it becomes dire and unsafe. Perhaps the POA is respecting their wishes or doesn't know the amount of power they have in the situation.

If POA is deliberately withholding care for personal gains then do call APS.
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Report the situation to Adult Protective Services in the county where the vulnerable adult lives as a person in need to assistance. The POA isn’t the only one who can help a person, just the one with medical and/or health care decision making authority when the person can no longer do so for themselves. For example, I was my dad’s POA, never really used for much, and plenty of others helped him with things he needed
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It fully depends on the cognition of the elder. If they can call for help and understand a dangerous situation, they do not need to be watched 24/7.

FYI, being POA does NOT mean you are required to be a caregiver for the principal, this is a common misconception of what being POA means. And depending on the type of POA it might not even give them the ability to do certain things.
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You may be able to anonymously report the elder to APS. If you know the PoA's name and contact, all the better.
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