delare a parent incompetent

What is the name of your state? Texas

My dad is severly depressed. He has tried to commit suicide several times. He has been in several hospitals and to the state hospital in Wichita Falls a leat 3 times. He fools them into letting him go. He has not showered now in at least a week.

I would like to delare him incompetent and get power of atorney so he can not be released without some good help and medicaiton.

What do I need to do?

[tigger22472]

I don't have a legal answer for you just sympathy. I work at a nursing home where we have an Alzheimer unit. There is at least one there that I don't believe has the disease (of course if you gave the test to everyone.. they'd all be there) but does in fact just have mental problems. I have seen what it does to these people and it isn't pretty. We had a lady pass away a few months ago that I was told when she was brought in hadn't showered in a year. Her husband was totally devoted to her but the disease had taken over her so much that she couldn't function. He didnt' want to put her in a nursing home and tried to keep her at home. I wasn't there when she came in but I was told that her clothes were literally stuck to her. My advice is to contact a family lawyer and see what can be done.

PS. My MIL will probably need this at sometime. We are not legally able to do things for her but we help make decisions for her. She is diagnosed with paranoid skitzo. We admitted her into the hospital about a year and a half ago. The doctor came in and asked her questions then would look at my husband and I. Professional doctors understand and know when something is really wrong.