MUST READ: If R$R Prevail On Medicaid Kids Get Ready To Sign Over YOUR House -----

[liberalhistorian]

36. Yep. They live in one (Ohio),

and also where my stepdad is institutionalized, and I live in another (a western state). Now, I would not legally be responsible under those laws for my stepdad, although I remain very concerned for him and want him to receive the best of care, which he's getting. At the cost of my mother having any kind of a decent life after decades of working hard, since they take most of her income and his pension before Medicaid will kick in its share, but it's important that he get that.

Both of my parents live in Ohio and are currently very healthy physically and mentally, although, as we all know, that could change on a dime at any time. I don't know how those laws work in regards to residency; can states go after adult children if they live in a different state from where the parents are receiving care? I don't think they can, but I'm not sure, maybe they could. Now, I wouldn't mind at all helping them as much as I could; indeed, I consider it to be a moral and ethical obligation to do as much for our parents as we're able. But hubby and I really have nothing right now; we rent a home instead of own, we have older car, we hardly have any other assets. So it's not like they could take anything from us, anyway. And if his father, who lives in our state, finds himself needing care (which, given his age, is entirely possible), hubby's siblings, who live in other states, would actually be in a better position than we would, although we'd certainly do whatever we could.

That brings up a whole host of other questions. What if the children are unable financially to do anything, as they, themselves, might not have much? What if they have children to care and provide for and they don't make much money? What if the parents of BOTH spouses are in need of care and they can only be stretched so thin? What if they just. don't. have. it? How can they still be forced to give what they simply don't have? Is there a particular formula, like there is with child support, that takes income and other obligations, including children, into account?