What do you do to care for aging parents?

Question

My friends parents are in their 50's but a bit bad off.They're not physically/financially well off and things are getting worse.The Mom had a stroke and has broke an arm,leg and hip.The father is mentally ill.My friend is their only son and he is lost on what to do ,he hardly cares for himself well,what can I do to help him or point him in the right direction to get started?

Answer 1

Here is my advice:
Now the moon is almost hidden. The stars are beginning to hide. The fortunetelling lady. Has even taken all her things inside.

Answer 2

if it is at all possible the best thing to do would be to get them both on long term care insurance policies. (not life or health insurance, it is a seperate entity)

there is a cognitive test that they have to take, and at this point I doubt it is even possible but try try try

if that doesnt work, then you need to have them diagnosed as disabled by social security and let the government take it from there. the government's definition of disabled means there is no job whatsoever that they can perform. Once they qualify for that, they will be placed on SS and eventually will have medicaid to pay for their health care.

be forewarned, this is not all inclusive and it comes with a drastic price. there is a limit on what will be spent by the government. (this is why a long term care policy is so important)

also, any assets that they may own outside of their place of residence will be liquidated in exchange for medicaid including any life insurance policies or annuities

if they have a whole life or universal life insurance policy, what would be best at this point would be to start a payout of the policy and give them a bonus to their monthly income so they can get by - it doesnt sound like they will be living to 100 - when a life insurance policy cashes out if the policy holder hasnt died.

this is not legal advice and is only opinion of my understanding

Answer 3

Seriously it sounds like he needs to talk to a social worker that works with geriatrics. Not that they are old, but we have had a 55 year old patient in an assisted living facility because of similar circumstances. If he is not able to take care of them, then getting someone else to take care of them would be the best. If they are living on their own, then more complications will ensue especially if he is not keeping watch over what is going on every day. Usually a social worker at the hospital will help. Ideally private home care would be the best, but if their finances can not afford to allow for that then there is the other option of nursing care. There is a stigma with personal care homes and rightfully so (working in them for 7 years+), but there are some that are privately owned that take a max of 8 people. I have been in a couple of very good small home ones, I just don't know what other avenue to pursue.

Answer 4

Tell him to look into home care where someone comes in everyday and looks after them.My sister does this for a living.She goes to there house and feeds them cleans them and their bedding's and makes dinner.She is there about 4 hours a day. They are really young to be having all these problems what kind of life did they lead.Or have they always been sickly their whole life. Their age is going to make it a little harder to get help because today's standards that age is considered young.

Answer 5

Depends how much money they have in the bank... maybe something, maybe nothing.