DEAR ABBY: "Devoted Daughter in Houston" wrote about her mother having vascular dementia, and how a family member took advantage of her condition and removed a valued possession from her home without permission.
My mother has vascular dementia and we, too, had family members who tried to take advantage of her. I obtained legal documents from our family lawyer and had my mother's doctor declare her incompetent. I then photocopied the forms, along with my durable power of attorney, and mailed them to the guilty parties.
Needless to say, these folks are upset, but they no longer try to get money from my mother. -- FAMILY "BAD GUY" IN NEVADA
DEAR FAMILY "BAD GUY": The lesson is, as hard as it may be to face, that sometimes it's necessary to take legal action to protect a loved one from exploitation and financial disaster. That's what attorneys and elder-laws are for. So please don't let anyone make you feel like a bad guy for acting like a good guy.