Answered a question 2/3/2010 at 1:47 pm
My husband and I made the move from the east coast to the west to take care of my in-laws in their condo. We were the only ones in his family with the ability to do so - and felt that his parents des
...Read MoreMy husband and I made the move from the east coast to the west to take care of my in-laws in their condo. We were the only ones in his family with the ability to do so - and felt that his parents deserved the right to spend the remainder of their years in dignity in their own home. They could not afford assisted living either - it is just so outrageously expensive for most of the elderly to afford.
One thing we have found, which makes things difficult, is that there really is no outside assistance (my husband's brother and sister live back east in other states, but do make trips here once a year) from any organizations...with the exception of one situation - if either of them were to be hospitalized...then there would be home health care afterward for a period of maybe six weeks. It is indeed a shame that that is the case, as there are many of us from the 'sandwich generation' with both parents and children to look after.
My husband and I have managed with great difficulty - we have the rails and the seat in the shower, the wheelchair and walker. His Mom passed away in our second year here, and in the past six months now, his Dad has gone down hill as his heart is giving out. We finally got him to use the walker in the house, but he will not use it when he goes out...and, he states, the wheelchair is out of the question - so my husband patiently walks with him when he goes to the doctor, etc. Other than the doctors, the only other thing his Dad enjoys is going to his favorite casino...and while we do not want to constantly spend our time in casinos, we do this for him. We think it's important to let him enjoy the remainder of the time he has left.
And, while insurance covers some things, it is a shame there do not appear to be any organizations - at least here in Nevada - that offer assistance to family caregivers...it is a sad commentary on the way we treat not only our elderly, but the forgotten family members who care for them at great mental, physical and financial cost.