What kind of care plan is appropriate for an 85-year-old-ALS patient with limited time remaining?
I have a neighbor named Margaret who’s 85 years old. Her world has grown incredibly small—smaller than the front porch where she used to sit and enjoy tea while chatting with neighbors, smaller than the flower garden she once lovingly tended with her late husband. She was diagnosed with ALS about a year ago, and since then, the disease has slowly taken over her body, robbing her of her mobility and her voice.
These days, Margaret is confined to a hospital bed in her living room and can only communicate through eye movements and blinking. She has no family left—her only son passed away in an accident years ago, and her husband died long before that. If I hadn’t stepped in, she would’ve been facing all of this completely alone.
I’m not a caregiver myself, but I hired Clara, a kind, soft-spoken woman in her early fifties who was on the verge of becoming homeless. Clara now lives with Margaret and takes care of her—bathing her, feeding her, managing her appointments, and staying with her through the long, difficult nights when all Margaret can do is stare at the ceiling and blink.
I’ve been covering all of Margaret’s medical expenses and visit her twice a day—once in the morning before work and again in the evening—to make sure everything is okay and that she’s being cared for properly.
The issue now is that Margaret’s doctor recently said she may not have much time left. I’m trying to figure out what to do when that time comes. She has no family, and I’m not sure what will happen to her house or how to handle everything after she’s gone.
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Unless she gave you POA you have no legal standing. If you do, POA is revoked at death. If she dies with no Will someone needs to become Administrator of her estate doing the work of the Executor. Then the State determines who inherits and that will be family. If she has children, does not matter they did nothing, they inherit. Nieces or Nephews only, they inherit. Brothers or sisters, they inherit.
If she has a Will, that has to be followed.
I think you have gone over and above here.
Your neighbor should have been put in a NH years ago.
I am experiencing quite the head-trip on the threads this a.m.
I admit to liking it.
Kind of like Floating in the car through Pt. Reye's National Seashore Park, higher than a kite and listening to Pink Floyd when I was a kid.
Back to the Future.
I wouldn't have a clue now, where to begin. Hopefully an attorney WOULD.
It's clear that you must be very comfortable financially if you are paying for this, as it would be exceptionally expensive. Seems now you will be looking at an attorney and the Social Services system to get things LEGALLY put in place.
See an elder law attorney with your question this coming week.
Is Margaret cognizant? If so she, with help should contact an Elder Care Attorney and make her wishes known.
She should have Advanced Directives.
And she should make all the arrangements that need to be made. If this means making you her Executor and this is a role you wish to carry out. Or the law firm may do this if she has no family.
She can state what she wants done with her house and other property and the Executor should carry out those directives.
As to Margaret. I hope she has Hospice in helping, if not then contacting Hospice would be a priority as well