Where do older people go that don’t have money?

[Anonymous]

hospice. Hospice has a very, very low barrier to entry in Maryland. We were shocked. The hospice RN came over to the house, looked at Mom for about 10 minutes and Mom qualified for hospice.

We were shocked that no doctor had to sign off on hospice in Maryland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not a happy existence. If you don't have family, hope you die before you get old.

Reading these posts and seeing everyone in nursing homes or as one post said all the elderly in trailer parks it looks like family won't always save you. Even if you have children you will most likely end up in the nursing home with the people without children.

This is why I am already saving for later and taking care of my health now. Hopefully that will give me more good years than bad later on however what can be done about it, you could have all the money in the world and get dementia. That's why social services are so important and subsidised housing is vital, it looks like most people get the help they need when they need it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone thinks they would end it but when you are getting dementia you don’t have a good sense of how you are doing. And there is still a lot of quality life left at that point that you would forfeit.

Once the dementia hits, you don't have the ability to end your life.

I am going to say once I hit x or below on the cognitive test I want it to be over. Hopefully there is a lawyer who could do this. Anybody know of something like this?

No, but if you have a spouse or close friend or relative whom you can trust with your life (literally), you can have a conversation about this ahead of time and ensure that you go out on your terms. It's up to you to procure the supplies, which isn't hard if you do some research, but it will be up to them to put everything within your reach and make sure you actually do it when you get to that point.

My dad asked me to do this. He said the moment he can't wipe his own butt he's out. But he said ideally he'd just like to point his boat at a hurricane and die on it.

Yep. I'd head far out and jump in. Maybe drunk or on scrips.

[Anonymous]

Live with their kids

[Anonymous]

I came from a city where it seemed like 75% of the land was owned by the church, if it wasn’t a church it was housing for the elderly affiliated with the church.

I’m sure it’s cheaper than a nursing home, but not sure how much cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not a happy existence. If you don't have family, hope you die before you get old.

Reading these posts and seeing everyone in nursing homes or as one post said all the elderly in trailer parks it looks like family won't always save you. Even if you have children you will most likely end up in the nursing home with the people without children.

This is why I am already saving for later and taking care of my health now. Hopefully that will give me more good years than bad later on however what can be done about it, you could have all the money in the world and get dementia. That's why social services are so important and subsidised housing is vital, it looks like most people get the help they need when they need it.

Np. Our elderly relatives went to nursing homes when their kids couldn’t care for them. When they eloped weekly, called 911 in the middle of the night and kept falling down and breaking things. Not because their kids were evil. Dementia is hard and so is disability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:hospice. Hospice has a very, very low barrier to entry in Maryland. We were shocked. The hospice RN came over to the house, looked at Mom for about 10 minutes and Mom qualified for hospice.

We were shocked that no doctor had to sign off on hospice in Maryland.

It depends on the agency and how ethical they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not a happy existence. If you don't have family, hope you die before you get old.

Reading these posts and seeing everyone in nursing homes or as one post said all the elderly in trailer parks it looks like family won't always save you. Even if you have children you will most likely end up in the nursing home with the people without children.

This is why I am already saving for later and taking care of my health now. Hopefully that will give me more good years than bad later on however what can be done about it, you could have all the money in the world and get dementia. That's why social services are so important and subsidised housing is vital, it looks like most people get the help they need when they need it.

My MIL lived in a lovely community of trailer parks. It was all she could afford but it wasn't what one would picture. Social services doesn't get involved except in extreme situation. Reality is many of us cannot physically take care of our loved ones. I moved my MIL in but we have a small house and no money for hired help. It was terrible. I tried adult day care but wasn't comfortable leaving her there all day. At some point, with dementia you need 24/7 care and its hard to do and have kids. The only thing in MD medicaid would pay for is a nursing home. That was our only option to get help. I got her into subsidized housing but she couldn't take care of herself in it. You aren't understanding all the issues. Its not the housing, its the caretaking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the PP who keeps claiming (not just on this post, but has done so before) that they will just hop over to the Netherlands for euthanasia I have this to say: U bent totaal onwetend

Bottom line is that euthanasia is not easy even in countries where it is legal and where you are a legal citizen.

So back to original question: My brother is essentially destitute. He had to take social security at 62 so it's a reduced amount of less than $1,000 per month. He worked his entire life but it was low-paying manual type of work. His body just wore out.

His rent is $950 per month. I worked to get him on food stamps and accepted into Medicaid/Medicare. I supplement him by paying his utilities, car insurance (his car is almost 20 years old) and necessary household items.

He is single, has no children and has some mental health issues (not dementia) so he is sometimes not easy to deal with.

I know he is grateful for the help I give him but I try to make light of it. At one point, before I found out how much he needed help, he was living in his car for six months because he didn't want to tell anyone how bad off he was.

He is certainly not alone in his condition. Go to any trailer park in this country and you will see thousands of elderly living in poverty just like him.

These are people who were honest, worked hard their whole lives but just never were able to make it up the next rung of the financial ladder. Many times their kids either don't bother with them due to estrangement, or they can't help out because they are in even worse condition than their impoverished parents.

This is the reality of many, even with family help. My BIL and SIL would not help my MIL at all. We had to move her here and help. They wouldn't even call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone thinks they would end it but when you are getting dementia you don’t have a good sense of how you are doing. And there is still a lot of quality life left at that point that you would forfeit.

Once the dementia hits, you don't have the ability to end your life.

I am going to say once I hit x or below on the cognitive test I want it to be over. Hopefully there is a lawyer who could do this. Anybody know of something like this?

No, but if you have a spouse or close friend or relative whom you can trust with your life (literally), you can have a conversation about this ahead of time and ensure that you go out on your terms. It's up to you to procure the supplies, which isn't hard if you do some research, but it will be up to them to put everything within your reach and make sure you actually do it when you get to that point.

My dad asked me to do this. He said the moment he can't wipe his own butt he's out. But he said ideally he'd just like to point his boat at a hurricane and die on it.

Yep. I'd head far out and jump in. Maybe drunk or on scrips.

My parents have no financial concerns, but having had to deal with a grandparent with limited means and dementia at an old age as the sole support system, my mom has told me since I was in elementary school she wants me to put her out of her misery if she is ever like that. She'd like me to shoot her in the head. My parents hate guns and would never normally own one, but maybe you're right. Maybe if it gets to that point one needs to be aceesible, because I am not sure if I could shoot my mom even at her own request.

[Anonymous]

My mom knows a bridge over the water she intends to drive off of once terminally ill or incapacitated. Not around here so don’t worry about a traffics jam.

[Anonymous]

Once my father got dementia my mim took him back to their developing country. She was easily able to live on their social security and have help. The other thing there is that they don't treat elderly patients so aggressively when they get sick from pneumonia or heart disease, etc. My father never wanted to live with dementia. He died within 2 years of moving back to his county if birth. I am convinced he would still be alive and suffering if he lived here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone thinks they would end it but when you are getting dementia you don’t have a good sense of how you are doing. And there is still a lot of quality life left at that point that you would forfeit.

Once the dementia hits, you don't have the ability to end your life.

I am going to say once I hit x or below on the cognitive test I want it to be over. Hopefully there is a lawyer who could do this. Anybody know of something like this?

No, but if you have a spouse or close friend or relative whom you can trust with your life (literally), you can have a conversation about this ahead of time and ensure that you go out on your terms. It's up to you to procure the supplies, which isn't hard if you do some research, but it will be up to them to put everything within your reach and make sure you actually do it when you get to that point. [/quote

I found out there is simpler way....just refuse all liquids and die of dehydration. Supposedly over in tops 5-7 days. That’s my plan. Have 1 daughter from Pete in life. She asked me if I would live to mid 80s and I said no. Around 75
Is my plan

[Anonymous]

They go to Leisure World

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They go to Leisure World

Leisure world is expensive.