Is there any stage of Parkinson's that my father MUST be moved into a nursing facility?

Janet- are you able to provide some detail of your father's condition? How much assistance is required at this time? Many Independent Living places really mean independent- there is no help available. Assisted Living can provide help but they have limitations and charge extra for greater levels of care. Assistive items (like SuperPoles and Friendly Beds) are usually allowed in those facilities and they allow a person to "help themselves" to minimize external assistance needs. A person using their muscles to a greater degree also gives them a chance to build strength. The greater bonus is to reduce strain/risk of injury to caregivers. Just offering suggestions to let you know that there are items out there that may enter into your housing need decision. Good luck.

Referring to Grandma's post: if your dad is a vet and served in Vietnam era, he may very well qualify for aid-and-attendance benefits. There are also other time frames and geographic areas served, and there's a published list, but you'll have to poke around on the VA website to find it.

Dad is on hospice now with PD, diagnosed 10 1/2 years ago. What I can tell you is that each stage of decline came on suddenly and was drastic. Almost 3 years ago he was driving and living in his home. Then a fall required using a walker and no longer driving. Then he needed assistance dressing and showering, and had swallowing issues. Fourteen months ago he had to move out of his home and into mine. Eight months ago he had to move out of my house and into Memory Care, as a total assist. Now he can't even feed himself, and hallucinates 90% of the time. I don't think you can predict anything with this disease. So if you move them, you need to know now what your next step will be if/when they can no longer live in the new place. (Note that this disease will take its toll on your mother, as she will probably try to help more than she should. Also, you would need a back-up for when hired help isn't available or just doesn't show up. I think it could be do-able, but I couldn't keep Dad in his home. There were too many times I had to take up the slack, sometimes up to 4-5 days at a time.)

You may be able to realize your own answer and that is Parkinson's is not likely to improve. Yes, AL's are VERY expensive. Also, a private duty I used for my mother gave us the "bargain bin" rate of $12 per hour.  For example, a 12-hour shift would equate to $144 per day/$1,008 per week at the bargain rate. So your mother's funds would quickly run out.

Most Assisted Living places will not be able to care for someone that needs "equipment" to transfer. Sit to Stand or a Hoyer. Some may even have a problems with a 2 person assist.
You might be better off talking to the facility that you plan to move your parents to. Ask them what their criteria is. Some places will keep someone to "End of Life" others will not due to the higher level of care that is needed.

Just wondering if your Dad is a Veteran? It might be possible that the Parkinson's might be classified as a "service connected injury" depending on where, when he served and what he did. If that is the case you may be able to get more help than you realize.

Every situation is different- what problems currently exist? I discovered a very good book (by Jane Kriete Awalt) describing the decline of her husband that might be helpful. It is called "The Stranger Comes at Sundown" and it is her diary of their struggles. Yes- there are "stages" of PD but things are hard to predict. I have worked with many folks that were pretty good to the end- they had their struggles but lived a good life until something other than PD showed up. Best wishes.

If you think the Senior Community is expensive, you'd better check the cost(s) of Assisted Living.

Nothing is provided for free. Everything has a price-tag. And I have heard of "helpers" helping themselves to whatever they find in the apartment.

Like the other reply, your parents are settled where they are - I wouldn't be too quick to change things. Most seniors when asked, would prefer to die at home if it comes to that. I would say that until your parents ask for your assistance in moving, you might be better off leaving things as they are.

HomeHealthCare and Hospice will help your mother if she asks for it. Our HomeHealthCare and Hospice were free.

If your parents can afford to live where they are, why move them? Who chose their current location?

To clarify what you are saying.

Where they currently live they have access to higher levels of care as needed.

Where you want to move them, no care is provided

In their current location are they dependant on you for rides etc.? Are you having to make the 2 hour drive on a regular basis?

Are you prepared to be at their beck and call 24/7?

Do they have a social network in their current location? Do they participate in community activities?

Is the current location near where they lived for years? Do they have friends in the larger community?

Do they have a network of medical professionals working with them?

Parkinson's is progressive and will get worse. Eventually Dad may need 24 hour care, can you provide that?

My former mil has an idea that she would like to move to a city an hour away from where she has lived for the past 18 years. Problem is she is physically incapable of packing, has no social network there and the cost of living is much higher. She did live in that city as a young woman and again from age 45-60, but she is in love with a dream from the past, not the reality she would be facing.

Often facilities like the one you are looking at have their own criteria about who they will allow to live there, I'd be surprised if they would permit him to stay once he becomes unable to transfer and ambulate independently.