This is my 78-year-old mom Pat. She is a cancer survivor from New York. I have and would do absolutely anything for her including dropping everything in my life — my kids, girlfriend, dog, and life in Seattle, Washington to stay with her in New York for several months and get her through chemo and 30 radiation sessions, a cancer-free bill of health, and nursing her back from a near-fatal 80 pounds to a healthier 125 pounds. After that, I picked her up and moved her to a Seattle suburb called Kirkland so that she was down the street from me at a facility in case the cancer came back. She really did not want to leave the NY hometown where she grew up and had all her friends, but she went along with it because she was scared of any other scenario.
Fast forward to now, where she has been living with me for 3 months since leaving a facility after 3 years due to lack of affordability, no retirement savings or assets since she was a single mom all her life, and a tiny income from her previous work life. I had no choice but to move her in but I can not keep up with the 24/7 care and supervision she requires for her COPD/Emphysema and crippling anxiety, can’t go into an office for work, and can’t travel, which all severely limits my work opportunities and income potential in this crazy job climate. In addition. caregiver fatigue is very real and is affecting me deeply. Mom is miserable as well without much socialization and has been homesick for New York since she got out here.
We need help getting the money together to fly back to New York multiple times to get assessed by Medicaid to see if she is eligible, tour and pick a facility, move her stuff back across the country, cover home health aides and adult day care here in Washington until a NY facility has availability, pay move-in fees, and cover any monthly fee gaps until she has Medicaid support flowing into the facility.
I have willingly and lovingly overextended myself financially for Mom and other family members over the last decade including covering the entire financial shortfall for her household that entire time. I’ve reached the end of my financial rope and can not continue supporting her any longer and need the help of my angels (YOU), Medicaid, and a facility that accepts it.
Our deepest gratitude for your help and God Bless You…
