I'm 61 with breast cancer and I have no one. Does anyone know of a place to call for help or a place to go other than a nursing home?

https://www.aplaceformom.com/caregiver-resources/articles/saying-no-to-the-power-of-atttorney-duty

You can hire a person to be your Power Of Attorney. An Elder Law Attorney can help you put it together so that someone is always looking after you while you're fighting the good fight or putting your affairs in office.


Hospice is also a solution, read on! https://hospicefoundation.org

I don't know about the house - will you benefit by cleaning it up? Will you inherit it? is it worth anything? If not, walk away - not your problem. Call the local hospital and ask for people/organizations to contact - they can help steer you. Talk to the doctor and see what information they can give you. Also talk with an attorney to see what you should be doing now legally to protect yourself and if you need help. I went through this too - I could not walk - no family - ended up in assisted living. There is help but you need to seek it by talking with the pro's.

Why exactly does the home have to be cleared out and sold? Texas laws really favor property owners and their heirs.

Is it that there is a mortgage on it and it’s delinquent to the point that it’s been foreclosed on? Did it have a reverse mortgage? if it’s either of these, those are pretty ironclad so house has to vacated.

Or Is it that the home was owned by your mom and her husband and it’s his % ownership (him or his daughter) is wanting the house sold? If it’s this you need to defend the terms of your mothers will (even if she was on LTC Medicaid as that is a different issue although interrelated).
or
Are you thinking you have to leave as you got a Notice of Intent or other correspondence from the State or an outside contractor for state Medicaid that the house is an asset of moms estate that has a Medicaid bill. If it’s this, there is a whole process to Estate recovery that is required to be done. If step dad was co-owner, he will have to be involved in the process as well. If you are the heir as per a valid will to your moms estate and are yourself low income, will be homeless if not for this home or were a full time caregiver for them, you should file for an exclusion to recovery. There is going to be a probono legal clinics for the Permian Basin area, try calling SafePlace of PB 432-522-7201 or Legal Aid of NwTx 432-332-1207 to speak with someone to find out options on having to leave that house if possible.

Tumbleweed4242,

When I read your post I was shocked because I could have written myself right down to the age. Almost everything for me was the same. I just logged in here for the first time and the first thing I saw was your post.

I do not know what state you live in. I would be happy to talk with you. If you like, answer me back and maybe we can talk. Or maybe you can post specifically what is the very most important thing right now on your mind to do.

I don't know how this works but my heart when out to you because I have so been there. There is guidance in the BC community. You are very right and very brave to post so first off, give yourself some kindness and praise right away.

I'll check back here soon. I don't always check posts/e-mails right away but I'll remember to check here.

Best wishes,

Jessica

I can understand your panic! I had both breasts removed at exactly your age and I, too, was alone. No insurance, no family, but a few good friends. I had a bilateral mastectomy, chemo and radiation. You will NOT need a nursing home, believe me. I was shocked when the nurse at my surgeon's office told me both breasts would be removed, at one time, in "day-surgery"!

Day Surgery??? I just said, NO, I live alone. I want some heavy-duty pain medication after the surgery (injections).
Talked again to my doctor. He said he would hospitalize me and I could stay as long as I felt the need. I said I have no insurance. He said don't worry about that now. You'll find a way later on. First things first. (He was right...but that's another story)

I had the mastectomies and stayed two nights in the hospital. Actually, that's all the time I needed. I had no one to stay with me at home, although a friend offered (she could spend one night).

I had pain pills. Another friend brought food. But actually I didn't need much and was glad to be in my own bed. The pain was not as bad as expected. I had 2 "drains", one on either side of my chest that I had to empty 2-3 times a day from the little plastic bulbs on either side. Have someone at the hospital show you how to do this. It's not hard! And you will be able to get around fairly easily. A friend drove me to the doctor for dressing changes.

Believe me, you won't need a nursing home. And these days you are probably safer and much more comfortable in your own home than the hospital (I've worked in hospitals for many years, and have been a patient recently enough to know).

Just don't make a secret of your surgery (if needed) and your treatment. If you have chemo, you may wear scarves or head gear, so everybody will know, anyhow. And you may be surprised at the people who will offer you help! Take advantage of this. Folks feel good about themselves when they can help "a cancer patient", especially.
Ask for and accept any prayers you are offered. Mine will be among them. Medical folks are getting better and better at cancer diagnosis and treatment. God bless you and give you hope and strength.

You should be able to stay in house since you were caregiver for years! You can contact the Susan G Komen charitable foundation specializes in helping women with breast cancer…
phone 📞 1-877-GOKOMEN or
1-877-465-6636. G-d bless & HUGS 🤗

If you do decide on treatment, see if they have housing available for cancer patients nearby - some places do have this for patients during treatment. When my brother had cancer, we were under the assumption that he would be receiving treatment at a University cancer center, which had housing available, if needed, for patients & their family during treatment. The American Cancer Society also has "Hope Lodge" available in some cities. (We contacted them to find transportation for my brother to and from his treatment and it's a volunteer based program - since there were no volunteers in the area, we were out of luck. All they offered us was 'support groups', so I wouldn't get my hopes up too high on them helping you though it may be different in your case.)

I agree with the poster who said to just pick out a few sentimental mementos and walk away from the house and let somebody else deal with it since it will provide you no benefit to clean it out & sell it.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

@Tumbleweed4242, everyone has given splendid — and actionable — advice to you, take it step by step and you can beat this.

Most importantly is the advice given by SSAretired (SSA is Social Security Administration) which I cut and paste here: SSAretired tells why you must call TODAY:

”Call Social Security today to make an appointment for SSD/SSI at 1-800-772-1213. The date that you make the appointment is considered your application date, so it is essential that you call in February or you lose a month’s worth of benefits. SSA is backed up, so your actual appointment won’t be for several weeks, so move forward with your treatment plans in the meantime. From your posting, I am guessing that you have mental health issues, and those issues should be included in the information that you provide to SSA. FYI, even if you have not been working, you can be entitled to SSI benefits as a disabled individual.”

Monday is 28 February 2022, the last day of February. You MUST get logged in to their application system by 28th at latest since benefits will be retroactive to the month in which you applied. You will gain a whole month of retroactive benefits by phoning on or before Monday the 28th.

Do it, dear Tumbleweed4242, we are all pulling for you!

Someone may have already mentioned this but if you are being treated at a hospital, there should be a social worker that you can talk to who can help you with the various sources available to you.

Tumbleweed4242: I'm not understanding why your late mothers's and stepfather's home has to be cleaned out and sold. You should be able to garner much assistance from the Susan G. Komen Foundation, toll free phone number is 877-465-6636, email address is helpline@komen.org. Good luck.

Please contact the doctor that is treating you for cancer. His office should be able to put you in touch with resources in your area. Also check with churches in your area - they know the local resources - as well as the local police (who also know the local resources).

I totally agree with sp19690 and Peggy Sue2020. Since you will get nothing, do nothing. Just stay there and pay the utilities. It would take months maybe years to evict you and just let them do it. Go to all the organizations for help that have been mentioned. No telling what will show up.

Death by Breast Cancer is no walk in the park, it is painful and debilitating. I had several girlfriends die that way. Please, get help. You didn't say what "stage" you are in, but there is hope with a lot of the new therapies they have today.

I too am a Breast Cancer survivor. I did try to get help and was told that it was benign until it dimpled and was in one of my lymph nodes and a third one (I called it a baby) was near the original cancer. This was in 1982, 40 years ago. I didn't lose my hair, I was sick, but I worked the entire time.

You can always PM me if you want. I don't know much about help out there, because 40 years ago it wasn't available and I had insurance and a job.

how bout good friends or any close cousins. i am 75 and in ok shape, have one daughter and family but i'm always doing for them - i feel alone when it comes to doing for me. i have good friends and we do talk about things. good luck

Just want to add a comment or 2 to the very good suggestions you have received so far. I lived alone during my cancer treatment and felt quite lonely and frightened when I first got my diagnosis. I had heard a lot about how horrible "chemo" is. But they have made many advances in chemo. I had visions of "wasting away" due to vomiting etc. Trying to be cheerful, (but envisioning myself weak and thin) I said to the nurse, "Well, at least I'll lose some weight". She chuckled and said no, but you may gain a pound or two due to the anti-nausea medication they give.

I made more friends during cancer treatment than ever before. The I.V. chemo was given in a room with other patients, usually the same group each time. We had nothing to do as the IV's were given but relax in lounge chairs, chat, compare notes and tell crazy jokes about cancer and other things. It was like an unstructured group therapy. I was almost sorry when the weeks of chemo were done, But fortunately, a few of us stayed in touch, compared our progress and became permanent telephone buddies.

My postman, whom I'd hardly talked to before, insisted on hand delivering my mail. He also insisted on taking me to a cancer survivors "rally" he knew of. Neighbors stopped by to check on me and offer help. I suddenly had all sorts of new friends.!

Today, the survival rate for breast cancer is good. I won't guarantee any pleasant aspects of surgery, chemo or radiation (All of which I survived fairly well). But don't assume you won't do well or that there will be no "up side" to the whole experience. You may well gain a whole new outllook on your life as well as get the help you need to take care of (or dispose of) the house. Again, you have my best wishes and prayers.

Consider the fact that you would not benefit from the sale of the house, I would not take the responsibility on to clean it & concentrate on your health. Find an internal medical PCP to get a full physical check-up and refer you for a mental health evaluation. Between the two they can guide you to the help that you seek. Please reach out for the answers to your questions & find the help that you need. Find a church, gym, join an American Cancer support group, anyway, to meet people. Make friends, kickstart a new life for yourself! 🙏🙏🙏

Google cleaning for a reason. They provide two free cleanings for cancer patients. Also talk to your oncologist's social worker or nurse practitioner. They always know about local resources.

I am 68 and am in my 11th year of fighting Hodgkin's lymphoma. It feels good to get just the kitchen clean. I can handle the rest. I spent some of my retirement money to renovate the bathroom to help with my lost mobility. Figure that I will die before I need it.

Don't hesitate to ask for help with the yard. People are really wonderful an willing to do what they can.

Take care of yourself.

Liz

You might find your answers here:

https://giftsofhopetx.org

https://www.lawinfo.com/conservatorships/texas/midland/

https://www.texascancer.info/scripts/mgwns.html?MGWLPN=TCDC&PgmName=JCsup10&Cid=Y001

If you do not find any other assistance, please give these suggestions a try.
1. Some churches have ministries that offer help to the sick and the elderly.

2. Facebook has some good support groups for people who have cancer. The people in the group might have some advice.

There are lots of organizations that support people with cancer. Have you called the American Cancer Society?
https://www.cancer.org/involved/donate.html

Please keep us updated Tumbleweed - You took care of their father the least they can do is let you stay till after you Get treatment and heal . Find a Low Income lawyer at social services and change the locks and pay the utilities till you have your Operation and chemo . Focus on that . Check out Hospice and any support That you Can get . Find a social worker someone who can help you navigate thru this crisis . I am the same age as you . I got diagnosed with brain cancer and told " I was going to die . " The Doctors called me every day to check in on me . There are many options and suggestions here . If you seek out help you will find help but do not give up . Make yourself #1 and be selfish . Private message any one here who you resonate with . FB Has good cancer groups . Host a Sister can provide a room If you state what you are going thru - someone has probably gone thru the same that has extra space . Get support it sounds Like you have been terribly isolated . There are practitioners who give free reiki . I go to a acupuncture clinic that is sliding scale . People have had success using Rick Simpson oil ( cannabis based ) When I was in between apartments I would stay at a Hostel and make friends . Don't give up on yourself . Life is just beginning for you .

Hud has reasonably priced housing in many towns and cities for seniors and the disabled who choose to remain living independently. I live in a one bedroom apartment in northern California that is for seniors and those with disabilities. I had to start over in a new town by myself right after getting treatment for breast cancer, but I have met many fine people along the way. I met incredibly brave people in breast cancer support groups. I met a variety of people at local senior centers. Attending a church or temple where you choose to live provides you with terrific support from caring people, not to mention personal spiritual help. Don't give up on your life. Life doesn't end because you were treated for breast cancer. There are many friendships and relationships just waiting for you, if you just risk reaching out to others. The best is yet to come.

I have a cancer support center in my area. Search for a womens support center near you. The women I met were amazing and our difficulties are shared. One friend had 2 young children and no spouse. (After he learned of her diagnosis he left). We can get through incredibly awful events with the help of others. Find a support group, make friends again, look for a new home and focus on saving yourself not cleaning up after others who did not look out for your future and well being. You can do this. We cancer survivors are a very large club.

https://midlandhealth.org/the-breast-center/support-groups