Help Me Help My Brother
Donation protected
About 2 1/2 years ago my "little brother", Roy... (who will be 60 in Aug)...was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and Frontotemporal Dememtia. FTD is not Alzheimers but it manifests in much the same way, stealing mental and physical capacities, and is considered terminal. He may live 4 to 6 more years.
He is pictured here with our mom some 12 years ago. I took care of both my parents... Mom for nearly 11 years... and my older brother. All have passed. Roy is the only one left.
2 years ago it became obvious that Roy could no longer live on his own. We ("we" being me and two of Roy's best pals) found an assisted living home for him in Palm Springs, CA, where all three lived, that could accept him.
It was very difficult for him (and us) to cope with losing his car, apartment and independance.
By this time, Roy had few assets but we did sell his car and some furniture and stuff, and had a small amount of back up money.
Roy was already receiving Social Security Disability payments of about $2100/ month. We could pay his room and board= $2000, (No, Medicare does not pay for that.), and his phone bill but anything else came out of that back up money. That back up is long gone.
Roy got a SS raise to $2250/month this year. His rent is still $2000 and I have his iphone set up as cheaply as I can. Our difficulty now is a creditor insisting on payments on a $3500 debt and Roy is now in the Medicare Part D 'donut hole" where his monthly meds are nearly $550 !!
His therapists and Social Workers have done their best to find financial programs to help him but he "makes too much money" to be eligible.
I emptied my back pocket for him long ago, and sold the stashed family treasures. There isnt any spare change in my front pocket anymore, just holes! ;-)
I am hoping that some of you, my friends and Roy's friends, are able to pitch in a few bucks to at least get Roy his meds. It is not fun for anybody, least of all him, if he cant stay on the dementia meds.
Thank you, bless your hearts, and I promise to be your friend for at least a couple more months!
Ann
He is pictured here with our mom some 12 years ago. I took care of both my parents... Mom for nearly 11 years... and my older brother. All have passed. Roy is the only one left.
2 years ago it became obvious that Roy could no longer live on his own. We ("we" being me and two of Roy's best pals) found an assisted living home for him in Palm Springs, CA, where all three lived, that could accept him.
It was very difficult for him (and us) to cope with losing his car, apartment and independance.
By this time, Roy had few assets but we did sell his car and some furniture and stuff, and had a small amount of back up money.
Roy was already receiving Social Security Disability payments of about $2100/ month. We could pay his room and board= $2000, (No, Medicare does not pay for that.), and his phone bill but anything else came out of that back up money. That back up is long gone.
Roy got a SS raise to $2250/month this year. His rent is still $2000 and I have his iphone set up as cheaply as I can. Our difficulty now is a creditor insisting on payments on a $3500 debt and Roy is now in the Medicare Part D 'donut hole" where his monthly meds are nearly $550 !!
His therapists and Social Workers have done their best to find financial programs to help him but he "makes too much money" to be eligible.
I emptied my back pocket for him long ago, and sold the stashed family treasures. There isnt any spare change in my front pocket anymore, just holes! ;-)
I am hoping that some of you, my friends and Roy's friends, are able to pitch in a few bucks to at least get Roy his meds. It is not fun for anybody, least of all him, if he cant stay on the dementia meds.
Thank you, bless your hearts, and I promise to be your friend for at least a couple more months!
Ann
Organizer
Ann Dunan
Organizer
Tallahassee, FL