I don't know if there are any real laws on it, but I would say that many
people feel an unwritten law.

In any case, if you don't feel you should, then maybe you shouldn't.   When
there is a lot of anger and hostility it makes for a very volatile
situation, exactly what is NOT needed in caring for someone who can't care
for themself any more.

When a person lives alone and has no relatives to look after them there are
some authorities that are called into the situation when things get out of
hand.   But usually it comes when there is some disaster, like a stroke, a
fire, or some other situation that needs immediate attention.

There are a few states which have laws saying you are legally responsible to
provide for elder parents and refusing to do so is elder abuse. I think that
is true of Arizona. Not sure about others.

I would imagine that placing them in an appropriate care facility would
satisfy this requirement.

Adelle

Boydette,

It's the wrong time to ask this question since things here just get
worse and worse.  I went into Mom's care a reasonably healthy happy
woman but now nine years later I'm dealing with heart problems,
diabetes, depression, and high blood pressure.  Maybe I would of gotten
those conditions anyway because of being overweight but I have to
wonder.  Also, I was far more active physically but now find myself a
couch potato because I have to watch her constantly so she doesn't try
to get up and walk which leads to her falling down and getting hurt.  So
we sit for hours and hours since the minute I turn my back she's on the
move.  Trying to do even simple housework has become impossible.

On the positive side I do read a lot, lol, so I guess all is not lost.

In your situation and with your emotional state I wouldn't even attempt
caring for your parents.  I doubt you can be forced to either physically
or financially.  If I knew then what I know now I would of handled
things very differently and lined up my ducks a lot better.  I don't
regret caring for mom in the first five years but should of sought out
putting her into a nursing home after that.  

One of the things people don't talk about much is removing yourself from
the work market (either full or part-time) to care for your parent(s).
Getting back into it because you're a lot older and a risk because of
health issues is difficult. If you have children, even older teens, they
will be robbed of your attention AND maybe get into problems because
you're not as plugged in to what's going on in their lives.

Since both my mother and I were widows, it seemed like a good idea at
the time that our combined resources would make all our lives easier.
The problem became that financially we were ok but time spent became top
heavy the more dependent she became.  When I broke it down, her share of
money wasn't anywhere near what it was costing me in other ways.  

Well, I've b**** enough.  I'm a big girl and shouldn't be boohooing
making bad decisions based on emotions.   Another lesson hard learned.

raven

If you really want to inherit your momma's house, you had better take
care of her.  Or, you could just keep her locked in a closet for seven
years.  But then, if you don't want to wait that long you could try
some ethylene glycol in her orange juice or arsenic in her mashed
potatoes, couldn't you?