"Mom is in her 80s and had some health events earlier this year that put her in need of round-the-clock care. She lives outside of Philadelphia, about three hours from my brother and five hours from me. When we lived in Iowa, it was about 17 hours, so this is better, but only in relative terms. She has always been private and fiercely independent."
"Luckily, she was practical enough to know that it's one thing to live alone in your 40s and another in your 70s, so after she retired she moved into a facility that starts with independent living and offers stages of care from there. It's not cheap, but she had saved assiduously, and the sale of her condo more or less covered the entrance fee."
"The 2022-03 year featured payments for both, which was particularly difficult, but we got through it. We've paid off TB's student loans, and were able to get TG through without taking out any loans, so this coming spring semester should be the last of our tuition payments. We don't regret them, but we won't miss them, either. I smiled a bit when I realized that I've filled out my last FAFSA."
An elderly parent experienced health events that created a need for round-the-clock care, while living several hours away from adult children. The parent had prioritized independence and moved into a continuum-of-care facility after retirement, funded by savings, a condo sale, and delayed Social Security benefits. The onset of intensive care increased monthly expenses roughly fivefold and reduced the parent's ability to manage affairs. Adult children were already managing college tuition payments and student loans but expect tuition obligations to end soon. Long-term care insurance and prior savings provided some protection, yet financial and logistical challenges remain significant.
Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
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