Enduring Power of Attorney

If you ever have a choice, don’t become an Enduring Power of Attorney for someone who lives on a different continent. I should be all set up to handle my father’s finances in England, I registered the Power of Attorney as requested. I jumped through the hoops and should be able to do everything online. But it’s pretty hard to get them to fully co-operate when I’m thousands of miles away. We’re doing a two-week volley. I send a letter. Two weeks later I get a response telling me why they can’t do what I ask them to. You should see my blood pressure rise when I open the mail. I should know better but I could swear they’re inventing new ways not to co-operate. In reality, it’s just bureaucracy. I also got a letter from the social worker saying that my Dad says he’s doing fine. I understand why you have to listen to someone’s self-evaluation, and I understand you can’t force help on someone who doesn’t want it. But why do we expect someone with dementia to be capable of evaluating his own abilities? I just launched the next volley of letters overseas. I’m hoping this one goes better.