Current Mood:  determined
.........So,we have had our lives eclipsed,for the most part, by my Mother,her health-and the issue with the VA Fiduciary wanting to limit her access to her own benefits as a retired/100 % disabled Veteran...for almost 3 1/2 months now?
All of this has been based on HIS 'assumption' that she is completely "incompetent" and psychotic. Where he obtained this vehemant impression,we dont know.
Never mind that the state of Ohio,and its courts,declared her competant to make important and vital decisions for her self in the early part of 2007, after a previous attempt was filed by the VA via unethical tactics.
Nevermind all individuals who have had recent-regular- interactions with her are willing to vouch in her favor....including her previous "payee",who encouraged her to request her funds be re-instated to HER care, that he felt she was capable of paying her own bills and managing the rest.
Many basic rights of both her,and I -as her daughter,closest family member and POA, have been infringed on,if not completly by-passed and ignored....
The amount of stress this experience has caused is indescribable...all intermixed with the issue of her health being in such a delicate state.
I have been in fear of losing our home,as well as my mother being placed permanantly into a facility NOT of our choice,but THEIRS....one who would allow her medical needs to go unattended properly....this man has kept her funds "hostage" for over 2 months,recently alloting her only a very small portion of her benefits...stating that it ought "to be enough". He claims to have the "Veterans best interest in mind".Bullshit.
I have been told by her Dr's-after she was released home after rehab, that this is "end of Life" care I am being required to govern for her,and willingly so...that she will only get worse,physically....and to expect that someone needs to be available for her 24/7 for the most part,as needed. WHY not allow her some peace,allow her her benefits...and LET her spend it how she wishes! I promised my Father to care for her when he was gone..and I KNOW his ashes are just a churning in his urn over this...
They have attempted to strong-arm and intimidate her into signing God knows what..in a lawyers office,whom we never met,and who would not speak to us-and never allowed us an opportunity to describe OUR situation and our concerns regarding this NON-"man" acting on the behalf of the dept. of Veterans Affairs. We were told to come alone-and when we didnt wish to enter the inner office and sign papers,they were pissed-threatened if we did not agree to sign the forms this man intended to present,that she would not recieve any of her money,nor would her bills and mortgage be payed.That lawyer,by law,should have required him to produce a current probate court document stating that the judge believes she is incompetant...and there IS NO SUCH DOCUMENT IN EXISTENCE...only documents stating the Clark county probate judge DISMISSED this two yrs ago with no further issue,because a COURT APPOINTED PSYCHIATRIST DECLARED HER AS MOST DEFINITELY COMPETENT,and aware of both her capabilities and limitations. This lawyer never cared to see the actual papers.
There have been SO many things occur, that blow my mind....especially our difficulty in finding anyone to assist us-even with answers, advice,of whether or not we were justified in feeling like our feet were stuck between the slats of the train tracks...with the train bearing down just around the bend...and the diversion lever just a few inches out of reach....I have called,and called,and pestered,and been given the ring around the rosy-and SO many "Im so sorry we completely understand your situation,and feel that there is definitely something amiss-yet it is beyond our hands/expertise/field to help/advise/or assist you in any way...Have you called so-n-so?"...only to rinse and repeat the entire diatribe again.Only to be redirected AGAIN...
Finally....a week ago...we came to a person willing,and capable...of helping. Why we werent pointed in his direction before-I dont know. He is a VA patient/veterans advocate. The first one I contacted could do nothing-aside from...here....let me call so-n-so,I'll get back with you....to never hear from him,and when I checked back-he had nothing new to offer.
THIS advocate guy....was willing to call the Senators (Hobson) office himself.....which got their attention.There's now a very detailed investigation occurring-least as far as I've been told. I've written up as best I can descriptions of all of this,some more elaborate, submitted forms n letters, proof of POA...proof that she just went through this crap 2 yrs ago...etc..etc...I'm to keep them updated as things progress,occur,and change...
And of course,the asshole DOES persist...and last friday..they request that they want to do a new evaluation of her..by another VA Dr....and...she wants to do it,shes that confident of herself....and so...I let her...because,the people in the ONE dept. thinks she'll do ok..and hope that she'll put all doubts to rest with a positive result in her favor...
Funny thing is,even though asshole guy REQUESTED it be done....she actually passed,based on what Ive been told. Tomorrow I'll find out the official report..but its been told to me that she did great...all thumbs up.
And so in the meantime....Im mulling over...how many different possible ways ARE there....to COOK human testicles????
Because...I'm thinking...after ALLLLLL of this horseshit...and fuss,and worry,and insinuations that I somehow "know" her old payee in a personal manner ...and have manipulated her funds through "knowing" him...through me being questioned and asked what MY background might be,as though Im a criminal....after being screamed at and told by this man who has NEVER met my mother-much less the professionals and VA employees who have dealt with and worked with her to find out THIER opinions...that she is psychotic, that she had no right in deciding her wants and needs nor the ability to use her moneys as she sees fit....including her insurance policies that shes had for over 10 yrs....That she had "no business" to make a phone call TO the VA to ask simple questions regarding her situation...
Im thinking if all of our troubles were not necessary,she did not need these worries on TOP of recovering from a fall down a set of stairs,surgery,pneumonia-TWICE.......and Im PISSED.....And hungry.......For BBQ nut-sack.
It will work out for the best by time its over and done with...but Id sure like to see his face,if/when he finds out she was found to be "Competent".....
I'm hoping the positive comments I was given by the examiner himself...still stand,and the final report by the Dr. is what he indicated it would be,when I was in his office......and I pray this a-hole doesnt somehow manipulate the results to his purpose...I trust none of them anymore,no matter how sincere the smile,nor the empty words assuring me things will be ok.
My Father was right....I now feel like Anthony Hopkins character in "Legends of the Fall" more than ever..."Fuck the Government!!"::::drool,drool:::::load shotgun,point at 'official':::squint eyes-and pull trigger::::drool,drool::::...(Yes,I still intend to vote...)
What bothers me most,is not only has this occurred to my Mother...but I am told by several sources,that we are not the only family being put through unnacceptable treatment by this supposed field investigator...there are others.....and some of them have been bullied to the point of giving up-giving up thier rightfully earned benefits,if not the family member themselves-to a "VA contracted home"....
I want justice for them,as well as my Mom.I want this man fired...as well as his supervisor,and whoever else had condoned,instigated-or encouraged these methods and unproffesionally abusive and negligent tactics. He was obviously given an objective-and told "no holds barred" in obtaining that objective....
I will pursue this matter...I will demand answers,I will not satisfy with simple apologies,I want restitution for all effected...I will swear upon whatever sacred books they offer me to swear upon,and I will uphold my words to my fullest capabilities...we have done no wrong,my mother deserves better-I will push it to Federal courts if need be....
If they do this to HER, and to other vulnerable veterans...all in the name of "cutting costs",the dollar being the bottom line ,(to put a disabled/retired 100 % connected veteran in a VA approved home costs LESS than half of her benefits) then where does it end? If they tell her what she can and cant spend her benefits on,and she ISNT gambling it away,doesnt have a single credit card..only a mortgage and needed utilities,cable,trash,etc...what will they tell all the OTHER veterans they can and cant have???
Of all the times I wish I was a 'stick-jockey'...it sure would feel good to beat upon someones rear flank right about NOW...(G) Repeatedly...as nauseum...
Updates will be forthcoming....
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paw_trackz's journal
energetic
annoyed
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