People Are Getting Real About Their Experiences With Eldercare, And They're Being Described As "Bleak" And "Nightmarish"
"My grandparents had around $500K, but my grandma is now down to about $160K and will essentially be out of money in just over a year. I've had so many mental breakdowns about it. I'm glad my grandma has money to cover her care, but it just isn't enough. It is bleak. This is scary and overwhelming at best."
Taking care of an aging parent can be stressful — physically, mentally, and financially. Because of that, it's not uncommon to seek out assistance. But when it comes to options such as skilled nursing, in-home care, assisted living, and other branches of eldercare, what does that really look like? Recently, members of the BuzzFeed Community shared their experiences and struggles with eldercare, and their stories are equal parts startling and insightful. Here are some of the staggering realities of dealing with eldercare in the US:
1."I'm 83 and my wife is 75. She's had Parkinson's, dementia, and anxiety for 13 years. The last year or two have become difficult financially, and I'm still trying to provide most care myself. I'm spending over $40,000 a year for four hours of evening help, six days a week. I'm up at seven in the morning and am very tired by mid-afternoon. My wife gets meds nine times a day, and I fix all the meals. She qualified for hospice, so I'm expecting to put her in sometime soon. Needless to say, I'm stressed out in many ways, financially and physically. After my wife dies, I'll have nothing left to care for myself."
2."My dad needed special care, so we were exploring our options. One place quoted us $600 a day. Another place — for a shared room, mind you — was asking for $900 a day. Who the hell can afford any of this?"
3."My aunt has Alzheimer's and was placed in eldercare after a bad fall. The hospital recommended a specific facility so that she would have around-the-clock care. She was there for less than a week. The facility wouldn't even take her to the bathroom, lied about her receiving PT when she didn't, and the staff was rough with her. My aunt BEGGED to come home, and she is now being cared for by family. I am thankful that she is light enough to be lifted without needing special equipment, and, honestly, she's easy to care for in comparison to how much harder it could be. We are fortunate that family care is an option for us; however, I can't imagine what life would be like if she had to stay at that facility in terms of money and care."
