In the Matter of Guardianship of Atkins

Marie Atkins appeals from a determination of incompetency and from an order limiting payment of her appointed counsel's attorney fees to $1,000. We affirm in part and reverse in part.

Seventy-six-year-old Marie Atkins was admitted to Northwest Hospital (Northwest) on July 11, 1988. On July 28, Medicare ceased paying Atkins' hospital charges because she no longer needed acute hospitalization. Northwest sought a nursing home placement for Atkins but had difficulty finding one, in part because staff at Atkins' prior nursing homes had found her daughter to be unreasonable. Consequently, to…