Am I wrong?

Rose, I noticed with your answers you are siding with your siblings and your niece. Why?

You definitely aren't happy with the situation as it now stands. And everyone is living off of YOUR 401(k), and that isn't right at all. Once all of that money is gone, then what?

Please think not in the present but in the future.

I'm sorry Rosa, but you are being abused. Someone who cares for you but makes sure you know she doesn't "like to" is being emotionally abusive. You are dependent on them and that is shaping your thinking too much. You need someone outside your family group to help you get things back on track. I would suggest working with a social worker or designating a POA who can act at your direction.

I understand you wanting to help your disabled siblings too, but rent free isn't really helping. When your money runs out, where are they going to be able to live rent free? Everyone in the household needs to contribute, either with household and care chores or with some money - there needs to be a household budget that works with the (combined) monthly income and not by hitting the 401k every month. The 401k should be reserved for non-monthly expenses like a new wheelchair or a hot water heater or a roof when needed.

Your brother and RA sister should be able to at least bring meals and do other small tasks for you even if they cannot perform many personal care tasks. They should be doing these things more or less on a schedule. I care for my mother and she does not ask for her meals, I "serve" her meals at appropriate times, check to make sure she always has a drink within reach, offer coffee refills, make sure she has newspapers and books, turn on the TV and find a show she likes, etc. When she was bed bound after a fall, I changed her incontinence panty at least every two hours. You need that too or you will have problems with skin breakdowns and UTIs.

On you are Medicare yet? Medicare provides bathing assistance twice a week. I think Medicare also provides some additional hours of hands on care and housekeeping too. A friend with ALS got a daily care attendant with progressively more hours as his capabilities declined. I would think your quad diagnosis would qualify you for an attendant at least 8 hours a day; maybe your doctor's office could help you with this. You need to contact your Area Agency/Council on Aging and get a needs assessment of yourself and your disabled siblings. If your siblings are not "officially" disabled, now's the time to see about getting that official label so they qualify for Medicare after two years. Let the AAA social worker help identify and get started all the community services you and your siblings need.

You do not need to break up your home with your siblings if a sustainable plan with everyone contributing can be worked out. If you don't work out a sustainable plan, then your household will be broken up at some point when your money runs out.

No. you are not wrong for wanting your sibs to keep their end of the deal. Look, whether you own your home or rent it--it is your home. They made a deal with you period. If they, "minus the sister who helps you but murmurs a bit" don't want to help you or pay rent then they need to go. They are dead weight! Tell them they have 3 options. 1) They can stick to the deal (help you) they made with you or 2) pay rent or 3) they can move out. To get them out you will have to evict them, which means going to court. I would make a list of what you need and want them to do and go through it with them. No one will look out for you so you have to do it yourself!

However, have said all this...everything in life is negotiable (except taxes and death) this means you can find a middle ground. But if they refuse to work with you then they need to go! And you need to find someone else to help you.

About the sister who helps some of the time but complains just tell her she can move out or start to pay rent. I have a feeling she will start helping you and stop complaining.

I nor can anyone eles here tell you what is right for you. I am just trying to give you another way at looking at your situation. You have received some good advice here and I would look into what services you can get. Can't hurt!

You shouldn't have to sit in soiled clothes or beg for help as someone posted here. You have the right to be clean, fed, water, safe, and just cared for as all humans do.

If you like your niece then keep her, which I feel you do. As long as she is doing right by you!

Some times in life we just have to cut people out of our lives and yes it sucks and it hurts, but like I always say, "when it come down to me and someone eles, I pick me." Just make sure you have someone to take the place of your sibs to be there for you in case your sibs decide to move out. Get your ducks in a row...come up with a plan.

I am truly sorry about your situation.

Just my 2 cents!!!

Seems its time to call APS. Since you get no help from these siblings they need to evicted. You may do better without them.

Rosa--
It sounds as if you are really only angry with one sibling.

I am curious as to why 6 elderly(?) siblings are all living together. Just curious, no judgment.

Maybe you need to have an all hands meeting and lay out the plan. It sounds a but unorganized to me, and maybe if you had a talk and put pencil to paper and worked towards a community based help, you would get better care, as everyone would know what their responsibility is.

Everyone lives with you? Rent free? I hope not. You do need a lot of care, and between the 5 of them, it shouldn't be a burden for any one of them.

One sister won't bathe you. OK, don't ask her to do that. You probably only need 3 showers/baths per week. Let someone else take that job. Actually, with all these adults in the house, each person could take ONE day and then be 'off' the rest.

If your sibs cannot/will not help, you have options to move--not necessarily to a facility that would take all your money, but to a place that would give you care and dignity, which it seems you are sadly lacking right now.

Come back with more on point answers. I just get the feeling you are mad at one sister.

Why are your siblings living rent free?

Are you able to engage a lawyer to look into the best living situation for you?

Would you be better off living in income-based supportive housing and hiring aides to care for you?

Have you applied for Medicaid?

Do u own the home? Or do u live with ur father, as profile says caring for father with dementia. But u would be better off in a nursing facility

I am so sorry to hear about your situation. To be honest, they are taking advantage of you. Your niece, although you feel is making money off of you, is really doing you a favor. $20/hr is quite cheap compared to agencies. If you own your home, I would sell and move into a facility. If you do not own your home (and even if you do), I would check the county website for services offered in your area for disabled people. Speak to a social worker, case manager and/or an elder care atty.
I hope that you receive the care you deserve. No one should be left in soiled clothes for hours and have to beg for the basic necessities in life, such as food and water. Do not spend down your 401K on your siblings as this may result in complications in qualifying for Medicaid benefits.
Take care of yourself.

Rosa, this reminds me of an old commercial where the parents say to their grown son "What do you think this is, the Holiday Inn?". You have the same situation except this time it is older siblings.

May I ask what started each of the 5 siblings to move in with you? What about their spouses? Just seems strange that 5 siblings would be doing this. I assume most are working, correct? If not, why not? It is not unusual in today's world for seniors who are mobile to still have full-time or part-time jobs being in their 70's.

Are any of the siblings helping you pay for their fare share of the electric, water, heat/air conditioning? I can't imagine how often your washer and dryer are being used.

I realize you don't feel comfortable telling them it is time to pay rent since they are not helping you out. And time to fire the niece. You could easily get a reliable and helpful person more than happy to make $20/hour to help you during the day.

Since your siblings are eating away at YOUR 401(k) which means you earned every penny that is in that account, you may want to sit down with a financial manager or Elder Law Attorney to see what would be the next route to take.

Downsizing is a given here. Tell your siblings it may be time for your to sell the house. That will get your siblings attention. Just tell them you can no longer afford to live in the house with the cost of the mortgage, utilities, property taxes, homeowner's insurance, routine cost of repairs and maintenance.

Even if your siblings surprisingly started to pay some rent and chipped in for utilities, you still need to have someone to help you with your daily needs. Check around at the Assisted Living facilities in your area to see about cost. Assisted Living aren't just for the elderly, I have seen young people in their 40's there due to mobility issues. No more worry about housekeeping, laundry, or meals.

All food for thought.

Please call adult protective services. Or make an appointment with them arranged through the privacy of your doctor. Or at least a Social Worker visit. I am fearful at your helplessness and dependence on these people. I am fearful that when your money runs out you will be utterly abandoned. I am assuming you have disability payments, are on medicaid? You need a social worker to help with guardianship by someone other than family member and THAT person can help you decide who you want living with you and the circumstances, pay, etc.; or the choice of placement; at least you have to have a social worker working directly with you and someone to protect both you and your finances. I am very afraid for you. Do you have a friend who can run interference with you and keep a confidence, because I am also afraid of what they may do when they understand that their ATM cash dispensing machine is thinking of moving them away. Whatever you do, move carefully and secretly now, because honestly your situation is sounding like you are in the midst of abuse. Please post us on how things are going for you.