Location: VA, USA
My dad's sister who he isn't close with/who has had a difficult life (long backstory) is in the hospital. He went to visit her and she clearly had some kind of stroke/dementia or other issue that reduced her capacity (she seemed quite confused and didn't remember how she came to be there), and the hospital is unable to give him any information without permission from her grandson, who has supposedly been taking care of her.
However, neither the hospital nor any of our part of the family has been able to get in contact with him, and we're not sure what will happen when it comes time for her to be released.
We know he has some legal power, but not sure exactly what it is. Obviously, he has the right to make medical decisions, and we heard that he was able to evict his father from her property.
Is it more likely that he has a guardianship, some kind of power of attorney, or something else? In either case, what will happen if the hospital continues to be unable to get in contact with him and it comes time for her to be discharged?