bright eyed
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2007
- Messages
- 1,891
Well, my father in law is not doing so well.
He's a tough old guy in his seventies (close to 80's) and has diabetes, high blood pressure and a very stubborn personality.
He injured his leg last year (i think it was a cut) - which eventually became gangrene...that was cleaned up, then something developed on his heal and now a chunk of his heal has been cut off (close to the bone).
I just saw him and he has lost significant weight, and mostly sits around, watching tv or sleeping. It seems a very miserable existance. I think he is also on a lot of codeine and tylenol.
My MIL takes him to the dr. once per week to check on his wound, and they just told her that they are concerned it is deteriorating. It was not a bone infection as they suspected, but are now doing blood tests - which if the results are bad, he will likely get an amputation...
This leads us to several issues that i am now involved in sorting out.
He receives social security income of about $1200 and MIL receives disability of about $900 - total income $1900 - they have a house and a $120k mortgage on it (mortgage is about 5 years old) - which i understand doesn't affect his eligilibity for Medi-cal - but the friendly people at the county office apparently got rid of my MIL by telling her differently - i doubt it was a language barrier problem since spanish isn't exactly a foreign language in that county.
Anyhow, we are about to apply for medi-cal which should help cover some of the costs that medicare is not covering...
but even with that i'm nervous about what the surgery, and after care would cost? also, what our options are for in-home care etc. MIL is getting worn out with taking care of him (she is on disability for carpel tunnel and is barely 5 ft tall, taking care of a grumpy 6'4 200 lb guy).
my SO had been sending them some money for incidentals (i think a few hundred each, each month) and had claimed at least his dad on his taxes as a dependent - but i'm pretty sure all that should stop right? Will SO be more responsible for other costs, or will his income be accounted for because he used to give them money and claim his dad?
Other options are:
1) sell house (valued around $370k on zillow, but it's in a terrible neighborhood, house next door is vacant, and so conservatively we might get $200k) use $ to help pay for these costs - they can move to socal and live w/ MIL's sister.
2) stay and figure out the in-home support care etc.
Are there other costs/concerns i should have on my radar? Best resource i have found so far is the HIC*P office which has already been helpful in answering questions and should help us through the application process and figuring out if he needs other gap filling coverage...
just want to dodge any more bullets i might not be aware of.
thanks for listening and any advice...
He's a tough old guy in his seventies (close to 80's) and has diabetes, high blood pressure and a very stubborn personality.
He injured his leg last year (i think it was a cut) - which eventually became gangrene...that was cleaned up, then something developed on his heal and now a chunk of his heal has been cut off (close to the bone).
I just saw him and he has lost significant weight, and mostly sits around, watching tv or sleeping. It seems a very miserable existance. I think he is also on a lot of codeine and tylenol.
My MIL takes him to the dr. once per week to check on his wound, and they just told her that they are concerned it is deteriorating. It was not a bone infection as they suspected, but are now doing blood tests - which if the results are bad, he will likely get an amputation...
This leads us to several issues that i am now involved in sorting out.
He receives social security income of about $1200 and MIL receives disability of about $900 - total income $1900 - they have a house and a $120k mortgage on it (mortgage is about 5 years old) - which i understand doesn't affect his eligilibity for Medi-cal - but the friendly people at the county office apparently got rid of my MIL by telling her differently - i doubt it was a language barrier problem since spanish isn't exactly a foreign language in that county.
Anyhow, we are about to apply for medi-cal which should help cover some of the costs that medicare is not covering...
but even with that i'm nervous about what the surgery, and after care would cost? also, what our options are for in-home care etc. MIL is getting worn out with taking care of him (she is on disability for carpel tunnel and is barely 5 ft tall, taking care of a grumpy 6'4 200 lb guy).
my SO had been sending them some money for incidentals (i think a few hundred each, each month) and had claimed at least his dad on his taxes as a dependent - but i'm pretty sure all that should stop right? Will SO be more responsible for other costs, or will his income be accounted for because he used to give them money and claim his dad?
Other options are:
1) sell house (valued around $370k on zillow, but it's in a terrible neighborhood, house next door is vacant, and so conservatively we might get $200k) use $ to help pay for these costs - they can move to socal and live w/ MIL's sister.
2) stay and figure out the in-home support care etc.
Are there other costs/concerns i should have on my radar? Best resource i have found so far is the HIC*P office which has already been helpful in answering questions and should help us through the application process and figuring out if he needs other gap filling coverage...
just want to dodge any more bullets i might not be aware of.
thanks for listening and any advice...