Son of a loose gun.

[Michael for now]

What is the name of your state? TX (Father is in AZ)

Perhaps one or more of you can give me some advise. I have recently taken over my fathers affairs and have a Durable Power of Attorney. He does not have any assets, and is (from credit cards mostly) in debt about 17K. His only income source is military retirement and social security. This adds up to about 1700.00/month. His room and board are about $1000.00/month. He is 82 years old and beginning to show signs of dementia and physically he is a wreck. If it continues to get worse he may have to go into a nursing home. I would like to see his creditors paid off but it seems like an uphill battle that will not be accomplished in his lifetime. I could pay off his bills for him but in his state of mind he might well go out and do it again once his credit is cleared up. At least part of my question is should I pay what I can of his bills or try to conserve what money he has for future medical. If I do not pay his bills will he need to file bankruptcy or is his income protected? Anyway, if you have any ideas I sure would like to get your advice. Believe it or not I have given you the shortest version of the story possible.

 

[david hibbard]

elder law/wills&estates

several questions linger, i.e., if dad living with you why is his room and board $1000.00 per month?; move dad in with you and put him in day care and use $ to pay off his bills; but most of all, if you have bros and/or sisters, get legal help!!!!!! and get it now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Power of Attorney causes more problems than they help....... My sis had poa over dad and after mother died she ran thru everything, and her husband is deputy in valdese n.c. IMPORTANT to get an attorney right now..... Consult one in elder law........

 

[rmet4nzkx]

It is going to be difficult trying to manage his affairs with him being in Az and you in Tx. Is he still competent? Is there a VA Home near you, they are hard to get into but if his health is stable, that is an option. If he has no assets, at his age declaring bankrupty may be an option but you will have to see an attorney, that does have credit limitations connected with it anyway. You have POA are you his SS representitive payee, if not call Social security and get that switched over, same for VA retirement. Once he is relocated near or with you things will be easier to manage. These situations are difficult and doing the right thing at the time may be seen differently later so it is important to have cooporation of your siblings, at least with no assets there will be little to fight over but your first goal should be to get him closer to you and to insure his future care.

 

[Michael for now]

In answer to david hibbard... My father decided to live with my sister in AZ and he had a room addition put on to her house for himself. When he sold his home he decided to stay with her rather than move to TX. At the time (about four years ago) he was in better health and had about 350K. She seemed to him at the time to want him more than I did. I know your next question will be where did the money go? You got me, but I have my suspicions. Now he is broke and sick but still wants to stay there. I think mostly out of stubbornness because he built the room for himself and has paid for a lot things in my sister’s house. The $1000.00/month is really all living expenses. $600.00 is demanded by my sister for him to stay there, about $150.00 in medication, $85.00/month storage cost on a bunch of junk left over from when he owned a home and the rest other misc. expenses including food he wants but my sister does not think is included in the $600.00. At this point I think the financial damage is done and $600.00/month is less then he would have to pay anywhere else. Living with me right now is not an option.

In answer to rmet4nzkx… Thank you for the advice on Social Security and the VA. I had not thought of that. My involvement in this just started about a month ago with a call from my sister that she wanted complete guardianship of my father because he was loosing his mind. I went to visit my father in AZ for 3 days and had him stay in my hotel room; he seemed fine when I was there. He requested that I take over his finances at that time. It was then that I found out he was broke and in debt. I think the truth about his mental capacity is that he is slipping and has brief moments of mental problems but mostly he is fine.

The main thing is I need to see an attorney and I thank you for the advice.