This thread hits home with me, as one set of my grandparents were in this situation. They would have been fine, had they only been supporting themselves on their retirement.
They both had professional jobs they retired from, my grandfather was able to have private insurance as part of his retirement. Several times during retirement, my grandfather would work small or seasonal job, more out of bordem or pleasure, rather than for income. For example, he worked part time in a fish market for a few month, just because it was something he liked.
My grandmother had serious health issues approx 6-8 years before her passing, she was an un-managed diabetic, who often treated herself because she was "good" or "deserved it". Her illness took it's toll, and she inevitably ended up needing a kidney transplant, which she did receive. Even after the transplant, she did not change, she quickly went back to her unhealthy ways and only lived another 5 years after the transplant. I learned after her death, my grandfather was forced to take out the catastrophic clause on the policy, and all the life insurance was consumed by those costs.
One of my aunts, her husband and son fell on hard times and moved into my grandparents home with them. Not to say multi-generational living wasn't okay, but my grandmother made my grandfather swear to not allow them to pay for anything themselves, to pay for everything for them. They lived there completely expense free. Roof over their head, all utilities paid, all meals/grocery covered. This lasted approx 5 years and I was absolutely furious with them, how could they take advantage of them like that, and did nothing to change. I understand their jobs reduced their hours, etc. But for Petes Sake, don't just sit on their sofas and down a quart of ice cream everyday. Pull you're weight, do chores, do their chores, the set of them together, being 3 plenty able bodied people, should have done what they could to provide for themselves as much as their fullest extent as possible and stop mooching off my grandparents. can't afford all the utilities, pay some, can't afford all the groceries, provide 3 communal meals a week, help do all the household laundry, do the dishes, cut the grass.
Several times while visiting my grandparents, I could just see the drain they had on them, but my grandfather was under the pressure of my grandmother to not allow them to pay for anything inside the home. Although, through the years, their employment returned to full time, and very well could have been chipping in in ways that would have been beneficial, they never seemed to have any money, but could buy cigarettes, and beer all the time.
In my grandfathers last few months, he had a near death scare of which he promised my mom and other aunt & uncle that he was going to sit down with the live in aunt and go over household expenses. He had been working for an airport pick up service, making small money on the side. It was not a risk he should have been taking. He took one last airport pick up job, and was found dead of a heart attack in the parking garage. He was only taking the job, as it turned out he only had $73 in the bank at the time of his death.
I know this is a very strong statement when I say, I 100% feel like my aunt living with them greatly contributed to his death, all the financial burden, worry and stress at their hand. My grandparents passed away nearly 1 year to the week apart from each other.
The aunt, husband and now adult child continued to live in my grandparents home for nearly 2 years after his death, while it fell into foreclosure, complete disrepair, disconnected utilities and the pool turned into a massive algae swap. They were finally evicted by the sheriffs department.
