Quite a unique situation! Any suggestions?

I'm surprised at the answers here. Her parents are 80 yrs old. Who is going to take care of them? How are they going to pay for assisted living when it becomes necessary for them? We've looked into assisted living for my parents. $5,000 a month for a small one bedroom. Daughter needs to be realistic and think of her parents as well. We can't always get what we want. Accept what we can get and be thankful. If Daughter can get medical assistance for living arrangements, she should do so.

If this was an adult child talking about their parents, we wouldn’t be telling them to spend their own money or even their own time.

triciasb - Not sure where you and your daughter live. Perhaps, you can check to see if the places your daughter wants to move to will accept month to month tenancy, of course the rent will be a bit higher than signing a year lease. You can co-sign and not have a long term lease to worry about.

What about searching for more places that don't require so much income to qualify that a co-signer is needed? Or places with lower rents?

Where is/was your daughter living before this? If she still has a place, can she stay there? Does it cost more? How much more? If you add in the cost of moving (packing, cleaning, movers, security deposit for new place, etc.), perhaps it's better to stay put.

None of us know the financial situation of the OP and her husband, none of us know if the disability pay is really enough to cover rent for the places the daughter is seeking, and none of us know what the relationship history is here (it could be not so good). She has said they cannot sign, and we need to respect that and stick to her actual question. I'm sure their situation is hard enough.

I would co- sign with no hesitation. Quality of life especially facing something so horrendous and so young is the most important for your daughter right now.

The co-signing would mean these octogenarians are also legally responsible for the lease. If the standard is one year for the lease and daughter is hospice ready, that means that doctors believe she might only have six months.

Have you looked for apartments that are specifically for adults 55+ that offer limited short term leases (6 month renewal etc) that also work with adults that can still live independent? My mom refuses to go to assisted living (She's too young at 88) her apartment is for 55+ and the support agencies (Hospice, Transportation, etc) work with them on getting what they need in terms of care.

I am shocked by the downright cold-hearted responses on this thread. Especially from you, sp19690 because you usually make sense and give pretty sound and realistic advice.
Please let me ease your mind though. No one is asking these two 80-year olds to empty out their bank accounts. Their cancer-stricken daughter can pay her own rent as the OP mentions, but needs a co-signer for her new housing.
I don't know if you have any kids, but I would move heaven and earth for my son now. If he was terminally ill and needed a place to live I'd fight down the Devil himself and so would his father.
Tchamp, I am so shocked by your response that I was near speechless. About the daughter likely dying before the apartment lease is up. OMG, dude you are truly shameless.
So what if her two 80-year old parents lose some money. God help us all with the responses on this thread. Absolutely disgusting.

If she has no place to live, there cannot be any home hospice. I will assume here shes not Medicare or Medicaid. A Hospice home or LTC have to be paid for unless she has a good Health insurance. Even Medicare only pays for the treatment, not the cost of the facility.

If she has Medicare and Medicaid under the circumstances she may qualify for Medicaid in a NH with Hospice. I agree, as she declines she is going to need help she may not be able to get in an apt. Hospice in the home someone needs to be there for her.

We say to Caregivers don't use your money to care for a parent, you may need it in the future when you are older. Now your saying to people who are 80 that they should co-sign for a child. This person is responsible for the daughter's rent if she can't make it. Where I live, a 1 bedroom could cost way over a $1000. If OP and husband live on their SS alone, this could be detrimental to them. Your assuming they have the ability to take on this debt.

I suggest your daughter go to Social Services and tell them her situation. I understand she does not want to go to a NH situation but seems like she has no one who can help. She needs to find out what her options are.

Hi Op,
Where is your daughter living now?

A terminal patient's wishes aren't necessarily orders to be followed blindly If they are illogical and unrealistic. It seems that the daughter is in denial and probably thinks that if she rents her own apartment she can delay her death indefinitely. Most likely she will die before her lease expires and her parents will end up in financial troubles. She needs to be on hospice care right away. The problem about housing will have to resolved differently to her unrealistic plans.

Your daughter will probably need nursing care towards the end. Round the clock nursing isn’t easy in a rental, and a NH of older people doesn’t make so much impact.

Try to get an idea of how long this current situation will last. If you can find a short-term lease for that period (6 months?), guaranteeing it may not be a big problem.

Who is going to be her caregiver during her final months?

Triciasb,

I am sure you're familiar with the saying, 'You can't take it with you'. It's true, you really can't.
You and your husband are 80 years old. What are you saving it for at your age?
Yes, you can co-sign for her. My father co-signed a lease for an apartment when he was 86 years old. He also co-signed a car loan for his girlfriend at the age of 89 because she had bad credit.
Lealonnie1 lower on the thread is right. What matters is your daughter's last wishes and how she wants to spend her last days on earth.
Co-sign for the rent.

While it isn't optimal the sad truth is that your daughter may only be able to afford a room at this point, or a roommate situation. You say she is in the final stages, and if not now, care in facility with hospice may be an option. I am so sorry for this dire situation.

If the parents cosign that means they will be on the hook for the rent payments should the daughter pass while still renting.

If the parents can afford to make the rent per the lease then cosign. If it would put you in a financial bind then do not cosign.

Don’t sign! Your daughter should be lovingly told that the reality is she needs to go where she will be taken care of whether she is old enough or not. She is certainly sick enough, and that’s what matters here.

A person on the final stages of colon and liver cancer is not a candidate for independent living. Your daughter could drop dead at anytime alone. She certainly is a candidate for hospice care. Perhaps, because of her terminal condition she could be accepted into a church sponsored facility where she can spend her last days.

If she's able to afford the rent, and you know that, why can't you co sign for your daughter?? That seems like the easiest answer in a difficult situation. Compromises have to be made somewhere, right?

My condolences on this diagnosis for your daughter. Best of luck

(((Hugs)))) and my sympathies.

Is she on Hospice?

Who would provide care for her if she is in an apartment?

Is she being realistic about what her future holds?