[IADad]

well, one way to be sure family doesn't rip her off is to put her assets in trust with some disinterested fiduciary (like a trust officer at a bank). They'd set up an allowance and she can go in to balance her check book etc. and they'd have to approve any extrordinary expenses. So, that would protect her, but not really teach her anything. You could just take event by event with her, you know setting up a budget, deciding on major purchases, understaning the difference between a CD and indian casino bingo...there might be elder services or a human service agency around, who might have some resources to help. Sometimes they want a third party to teach them so they don't have the embarrassment, sometimes they'd rather have family because the feel they can trust, depends on your mom.