My mom doesn't have a POA for medical or financial. I'm her only NOK (next of kin). I've been able to make medical decisions on her behalf because of this. I am wondering if I am able to take care of her financial affairs, specifically closing out her cable account - her cable is currently deactivated but they are still charging her $250 a month.
The easiest way if it's possible is to go to your mother's room, call the customer helpline from there, with her present, explain that your mother wants you to talk to them on her behalf, and then hand her the phone just to say that she gives them permission to talk to you about her account. From there they can act on your instructions. So all she has to handle is this bit, and so as not to make it seem ridiculously simplistic I'll give you an approximate transcript:
"Hello Mrs Smith, do you give permission for me to talk to your daughter about your cable account?"
"Hello? Hello?"
"Mrs Smith?"
"Yes? Who's there?"
"This is Acme Cable Company. Would you like me to talk to your daughter about your account?"
[Mother, to you] "Who is it?"
[You] "It's the cable company lady, mother. Tell them to talk to me."
[Mother, to you] "You talk to them."
[Customer service lady, having overheard] "That's fine Mrs Smith, may I have your daughter again please?"
Time passes...
You eventually get the phone back off her and away you go.
But $250 a month??? For a deactivated account? They owe her money. This is worth some persistence.
Also, you should be able to do the same with the bank - how is the cable company paid, standing order or direct debit or what?
Who disconnected the cable, the company? Was Mom under a contract? If so she may owe the term of the contract. If monthly and the service has been stopped, they should not be charging you. Without Financial POA, they may not talk to you, 250 is pretty high. What was she getting for that? They told Mom they could save her money and gave her a box for on demand. She had no idea how to get on demand or use the DVR. She did not need it.
A simple way to stop the payment would be to report the debit card lost (there should be a telephone number printed on it, and if you like you can just report it anonymously and say you found it lying about); the bank will cancel it, send a new one to the account holder, and there'll be no more payments.
Is your mother able to speak on the phone at all?
How much has she been charged altogether since the service was deactivated?