What Can Siblings Do When Blocked From Visiting Their Aging Parent?

The power dynamic in families can be highly problematic as a parent ages. Often, one adult child has authority over decisions about the aging parent. Things can go wrong when that power is misused.

When siblings disagree over the actions one sibling takes, things can escalate quickly. When the aging parent legally appointed one person to be the agent under a healthcare directive as well as the agent holding power over finances that person has total legal authority, with those legal documents in place. Both of these appointments, if properly done, can leave other family members feeling shut out. They may feel helpless when the one in authority will not hear anyone else’s input. The one in authority can prohibit contact by any family member with the elder, despite the fact that there is no legally permissible reason for doing so. The healthcare directive, for example, allows the appointed agent to exercise control in a care home, such as assisted living. The directors in those facilities are bound to follow the direction of the appointed authoritative sibling or other. It’s in writing and they have no choice.