Mom is in her 70s, independent, resides alone, and still drives. My sister has a long history of embezzlement (from her employer and a little league baseball organization), retail fraud, stealing from stores, using other's credit cards, taking out credit card for her kids when they turn of age and not paying them (without their consent), and even taking advantage of her own in-laws. These gigs have all dried up and she moved onto having herself, spouse, 15 year old daughter (now 22) and and adult daughter all getting narcotics from their PCP. She even got Mom and Dad going to this PCP, who I feel is just a pill mill. What respectable physician prescribes some serious pain meds to a 15 year old and everyone in the family? Sister began selling their pain pills. She picks up everyones pills and doles them out to all of them, but sells the rest. Dad passed 2 years ago and I found out, not long after his death, that Mom was prescribed 120 7.5-325 mg per month for well over a year and that my sister had been picking them up. I am my Mom's DPOA (not a Springing DPOA, but not sure if its activated as she is of sound mind) and when I found out about sister selling her pain pills, she said it would never happen again and I told her if it did, I would contact the police. Well, Mom needed surgery in March 2021 and upon discharge, she couldn't be prescribed anything for pain because 120 Norco was picked up the day prior. It wasn't picked up by Mom because she was at my house for the entire week prior. Mom was in quite a bit of pain after surgery. The hospital asked her why she didn't put Norco on her medication list but she didn't answer. If they drug tested her it also wouldn't have showed up because my sister picks them up and sells them! I contacted the DEA online and reported her and the physician (as what respectable physician prescribes that much to a 74 year old?) and nothing has happened. Mom said it would never happen again. My mother thinks I am the crazy one. I don't steal, my kids are very successful, and I am an RN. I know that I am a mandatory reporter, and I have reported my sister, and nothing has happened. Last night, I caught them both in a lie and my sister pressured my mom into writing her credit card number down so that she could by plane tickets. When I confronted Mom, she lied to me and told me she only wrote down an address. When I told her that I looked on my house cameras and saw her in my living room writing down the credit card number, she then admitted it. I then asked Mom whether she is getting pills again for Cindy (Sister), she denied it, but I told her that I will find out and if so, then I will be going to the police (and not just turning it in online). She left my house this morning and went straight to my sister's. She more than likely informed her that I will be contacting the police. By her going to my sister's house before going back upnorth to her home, that solidified to me that my sister is still pressuring her. My mother had previously told me that Cindy would call her every month and tell her it was time to call the Dr. for pills. Cindy would go to the pharmacy and pick them up. My Mom's insurance pays for them. Cindy would then sell them. I told my mom that she may well get into trouble as well. I don't know if my mother really knew what she was doing was wrong. I think she thought she was just helping my sister out. My sister is definitely taking advantage of my Mom. She had a complaint from her brother in law as he contacted the police as she was taking her father in law to the ATM to get money out, and he has dementia, but nothing ever happened to her. He even co-signed for a car when he wasn't even oriented. Please give advice as what I should do. I don't care if my sister goes down, but I just want to protect my Mom. Should I call the police? Should I get more evidence such as her printout from the pharmacy? Should I just wipe my hands of it all? Please help
I worked for a pharmaceutical company who supplied OTC and DEA controlled drugs to our pharmacy customers. The DEA came into our offices and requested printouts of all drugs bought by a certain pharmacy. With Pharmacies, for every DEA drug they order there must be a prescription to match. This pharmacist was ordering more than he was dispensing because he was selling them on the street. You may be surprised to find that the DEA has already been looking at this doctor for prescribing the same drug consistently.
Next I would read your PoA papers to see if it's durable. This would most likely mean that a diagnosis of incapacity is not required, but you must read it to be sure. If you still aren't sure have an attorney look at it because it will be an invaluable tool to help protect your mother immediately. Because if you aren't positive I'm going to bet your sister will start a power struggle over your mom.
If it's durable and doesn't require any proof I would have your legal authority go in to overdrive and get a restraining order against your sister and the others and act to protect your mom, her sensitive information (SSN, driver's license, banking info), her finances, and clear up her medical records. I would go so far as to remove her from anywhere your sister can contact her in person or otherwise. Call your mom's pharmacies to make sure no one else it to pick up her meds, ever.
You will need to contact her banks to see what they require in order to add you jointly (some will require you take your mom there in person with ID, some don't require an in-person visit but do need at least 2 forms of ID that they specify).
If your mom has a phone and she contacts your sister I would seriously consider deleting or blocking your sister's number, or temporarily confiscate the phone from your mom because it sounds like she would contact her, and this will not be in her best interest.
Wishing you much success in getting your mom gathered up and protected from your predator relative.
Contact the police with the information you have, with any proof you have.
You can also contact APS and say that your sister is financially abusing your mom.
Good possibility that this is Medicare/Insurance fraud as well.
If APS interview your mother and your mother is of sound mind and denies everything and tells them all is well, APS must take her word for it. They can't do anything further.
The same is not true of the police.
Is the px you're talking about *only* the Norco, though? Here it's called co-codamol, and although it does contain codeine - and certainly I agree that a respectable family physician ought not to be prescribing it long-term without a second thought - it's available to buy over the counter in pharmacies and supermarkets, and it isn't even expensive. That's why I'm wondering if you're sure about all this. I can't see it being a money-spinner.