After leaving the hospital last August, my friend needs 24-hour care. He wants to stay in his condo with his cat. He receives $4,500. a month combined SS and a pension. The combination of caregiving expenses, $3,000. a month, rent, $1,600., food and utilities, approx. $1,300. puts him $1,400. in debt every month. He has only $5,000. left in his checking account. After using up what's left in his checking account, should he use his credit cards for food and utilities, running up his cards in order to stay in the condo? Once the credit cards are at their limits, will a board and care facility still take him?
He needs to get into a Board and Care home NOW.
He is living beyond his means. Does he comprehend that?
It sounds like he's not thinking clearly.
If he were in board and care, I suspect they would find a way to include a provision in their admission contract to either directly deduct from his checking account, or establish themselves as priority creditors. If I were in the position of an admission director, that's what I would do.
Additionally, if he were in paid care, he wouldn't have the rent, food and utility costs of living apparently alone in his condo.
I don't think that relying on credit cards would be wise for someone already paying high amounts for basic services. It's probably time for him to sell the condo and use the funds for care in a facility.
Any hired care company is going to want to secure its own position. If he's not paying down his credit card bills, at some point he would reach the limit, and the card issuer would consider legal action. If he still has the condo, it could after suit and judgment, file a lien against the condo and property.
Find a board and care home now and get him the care he needs. This is the right thing to do.
Do people not realize that everyone, including you and your children, grandchildren, friends and family pay more because of unpaid debt? Why anyone would think this is acceptable is beyond me.