Help move Lonnie & Barbara

I am moved to tell this story about my best friend’s parents. They’ve been together for 41 years. After these incredible years of marriage, of living together and caring for one another, her parents can no longer be on their own in Florida. They’ve supported and smiled upon Rachel no matter what, particularly when she moved to New York and started a career in the non-profit sector. At 87 years of age, her father has survived two quadruple bypass surgeries, a cerebral aneurysm, and cancer. He has always been one to extend a hand to someone in need and would never ask for anything. He has been Rachel’s mother’s primary caregiver for over 6 years. She is 72 and was diagnosed with early onset dementia 8 years ago. Before dementia slowly enveloped her, she was a smart and feisty woman, independent, detail-oriented, and fought for others who couldn’t advocate for themselves. Dementia has robbed her of all of that. She does not know who her husband is or that my friend is her daughter. Sometimes her face lights up and she is still there, somewhere.
Due to health issues, her dad was forced to retire early. After retirement, he invested his money with a broker who pulled a Madoff on them. They sold off everything they owned just to manage over the past few years. Her father has valiantly tried to care for her on his own with limited resources. He cannot care for her any longer since he was just diagnosed with heart failure. As the friend of their only child together, she and I want to make sure that they are taken care of and keep them as safe and comfortable as they can be.
She needs help relocating them from Florida to New York, to a safe and supportive place that will accommodate their medical and emotional needs. Monthly costs for their care are now estimated to be between $4,500 and $6,600 a month. Their income and assets are severely limited, but they currently do not meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid.  Any guidance, legal or otherwise, around these challenging systems would also be greatly appreciated, as they are complicated and confusing systems. For her, it really does take a village, and, as her friend I am hoping we can all work together.