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babyd Asked June 2010

I retired at age 56 to care for my 96 year old father. What can I do if he is getting weak walking and I can’t go anywhere because he can’t be left alone?

ibarro Jun 2010
get a doctor's prescription to get home care services so a home attendant can come and take care of him while you are taking care of your business. a visiting nurse service will come and check him and they can also get your father a wheelchair and your home attendant can accompany/help you with your father if you want to take your dad with you someplace. like doctor's appointments, park, laundry, etc. also if your doctor give you directly a prescription to get your father a wheelchair you can get it yourself in your closes medical supplies pharmacy .

robert888 Jun 2010
It's very very tough if it is just the two of you. I relocated to another area where I could get more affordable help to come to the house. I don't think I could handle it otherwise.

Can you start asking others to help? It's not a sign of weakness or failings to ask for help. I don't think anyone, on their own, can take care of an elderly adult who is becoming more and more frail.

My friend asks nursing college students, as this is affordable, to "adult-sit" to free up time for errands, an afternoon away, etc.

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anonymous11306 Jun 2010
Does he use a walker?

What was his situation before you retired early to take care of him?

Are you married?

What is the doctor's evaluation of him and recommendations?

If his doctor would order physical therapy via home health care, then possibly medicare would cover a lot of the expense. However, it will stop after a certain amount of time if your father does not show any improvement.

toadballet1 Jun 2010
What do you need help with?
(btw, physical therapy can help with the leg weakness.)

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