Some of you know that I have been taking care of my brother, Jim Hosmer and his step-daughter, Kristina Warren. Jim retired and moved to Tampa in 2016 with Kristina. He had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2015 and wanted to go back to Florida to enjoy his retirement. He had some good years after that enjoying the warm weather and new friends. Unfortunately in early 2022, his Parkinson’s and heart disease progressed and we had to step in to help. With the amount of medication alone, difficulty with stairs, and the onset of Parkinson’s dimentia we encouraged him to move to an Assisted living facility in Tampa where he has been since. Jim still has an amazing sense of humor which helps him through difficult days. He has good days where he’s the old Jim and then the next day, he’s struggling terribly.

I have taken over as Power of Attorney for both Jim and Kristina, managing his accounts, selling his condo, scheduling doctor appointments etc and he is now stable with Medicare and Medicaid because his money has dwindled down. Jim has taken care of Kristina since she was 6 years old, and as many of you know that has been no small undertaking. Kristina is now 47 years old but with the IQ of perhaps a 15 year old. She has ADHD, Bi-polar syndrome, behavioral and explosive disorder and is difficult to handle. I have tried to get her SSI, Medicaid, etc but the process has been 2 years of appeals etc. I am currently waiting to hear on my latest appeal to Social Security and if she is denied it will go to a judge for trial. In Florida, this seems to be how the system works. In the meantime she faced eviction for non-payment of rent and with the help of Hope Florida I was able to get funding to help her and pay 2 months back rent and September. I have to move her somewhere, emergency housing or other for October 1. In the meantime, I’m trying to figure out how to get her on her feet and able to take care of herself. She’s always relied on Jim and now I am that person for her. At 66, this is not an easy task. God gives me strength to do what I can but caregiving as many of you know is exhausting.

Cathy, Harold, Dennis and I love our brother and help however we can but we have reached retirement age, some of us with social security alone. Just enough to live out our lives but not near enough to fund Kristina’s life. I am asking our friends and family, who are able, to help if you can as she still owes her apartment complex money to stop the eviction. Meantime I’m working on getting her out and into another housing situation.

If you’ve read this far, thank you for listening. If you can help in any small way, as a family we thank and appreciate more than you know!!