I'm back again with a different question. My disabled mom lives in a co-op for nearly 50 years and since her accident she hasn't been able to fix things and has no money. Are there any organizations that can help? She can't bathe anymore and needs a walk in tub/shower also but has no money to have these things done.
Also, her building has been trying to get her out for years and treat her like garbage. No one talks to her and all the residents talk badly about her right next to her front door. They are doing everything in their power to make her get out by passive aggressive methods. Just recently a resident started yelling at her because she was getting a package delivered. They really treat her inhumanely and don't even acknowledge her. I fear her getting more and more depressed and not caring at all about herself. Since her dog died a few years back, she is pretty much alone and the quietest person in the building yet they blame her for numerous things in the building. I know she misses her dog a lot.
I sure could use some advice. I really don't know what to do or how to go about helping.
Thanks to all!
From what you have written about your Mom, it sounds like she would be happier in Assisted Living, or living in a senior based apartment.
http://www.walmart.com/search/?query=disability%20bars%20for%20tubs
Not sure why the big difference in price for the bar but I got the cheaper. I had a man pull on it and it held.
In NYC, it is quite common for long time rental tenants in buildings that become coops to get substantial buyouts for vacating their units. That may be a solution here.
Has she gone to legal aid? There are law school clinics NYU and Columbia in Manhattan, Fordham in the Bronx, Cardozo in Queens, Brooklyn Law School in Brookkyn. And others, that's just off the top of my head. Her local City Council person has staff that deals with these issues. Have you spoken to her doctor about a Case Manager for her?
Sued on what grounds? Were there co-op violations?
How does the manager of a coop building "sue the residents out"? Your mother has stock in the corporation and a proprietary lease. Has she violated the terms of the lease? Has your mother complained to the Coop Board about harassment?
Who is threatening to "break into her place for non-issues"? In a coop, or any type of well run building in NYC, the office has a copy of the resident's key so that emergency access can be had.
I think there are a lot of unanswered questions here. It also sounds like your mom needs more help than you can give her. Does she have a caseworker of any kind? Does she get disability?
Leads to a N.Y. Area Agency on Aging phone/address:
(212) 442-1000
You will be asking for something specific, such as free handiworker services.
To get along in any community, one would have to keep their unit safe, clean, and updated in good working order. Is there a possibility she has become entrenched in there, a bit of hoarding, a smell emanating from the unit?
Of course people hate her after fifty years, her rent is low and a burden on the co-op, plus, the neighbors could be jealous because if they bought their units more recently, they are paying more. It is human nature to attack those weaker than the others (if neighbors are bullies, lowlife bottom-dwellers).
Move her to a nursing home while her home is cleaned, (just guessing, 50 years?)
then, either move her back in, or ask her where she would be happy.
You would do well to organize a painting cleanup party, help your mom from your own resources. It's time.
Agencies and organizations can only help so much.
Best case scenario: Move her out of there. Imop.
With the " everyone hates her"...I going to ask you to tread cautiously. Unless you yourself have heard/witnessed this, your mom could be displaying some very typical signs of early dementia, paranoia, confusion and the like.
Do you have the numbers of any of her close neighbors, or of the manager of the building? You might get a fuller picture of what is going on that way.
There is a concept called NORC in the NYC Dept of Aging....Naturally Occurring Retirement Community. There are some areas of the City with a large number of elders "aging in place"..Penn South, Bay Ridge, Downtown Brooklyn. Some neighborhoods have social workers assigned to specific complexes, I understand.