He receives nice pension and ss check but has not let us help him manage his finances; now all his savings is gone and one of his friends has alerted me that he does not have enough money to buy food. Do I need to make him show me where it's all going to? What legal recourse can I do to help him since he obviously can't handle finances. He has cosigned on cars for his 'friends' given his money to them, 'loaned' them money and no one will pay him back of course.
you need to gain his trust and help him organize his paperwork. Tell him you want to look at his bills and make sure they are getting paid. Find out where the money really goes.
There are so many things that could be happening, gambling, drinking, loans to friends, scams, all of these things could contribute to his monetary condition. One thing for sure you have to sit down and have a heart to heart talk with Dad about his condition. Do it as soon as possible.
Best of Luck to you both
The food pantry in our area, we can get food every 2 weeks for 6 months and you can reapply. They are very generous with the food they give out and it lasts long.
Just say your dad is elderly and does not have enough to buy food. They may require 2 utility bills and proof of income and his ID. It depends on your local food pantry.
Also, try applying for dad's food stamps as well.
Hope this helps!
Maybe our resident legal expert can comment on this one. I am sure this happens a lot. I hope for your peace of mind this happens quickly. No Ferris he does not have the right to spend his money how he wishes if it puts a burden on others. As our government is finding out there comes a time when borrowing to spend has very negative consequences on the people who can least afford it. Did these people think the loans would disappear with his death, they will be paid first and there will be nothing left for the family to inherit. It is a very sad situation and you can choose to ignore it. After all he has made his bed and it is not easy to get someone declared incompetent. So two choices, let the chips fall where they may or be proactive.