I recently purchased a home in Naples,FL from my "significant other". The person renting this house has on-set dementia and is no longer able to handle day-to-day activities. As he is 80 yrs. old and only has about $1200 dollars a month from social security, what are my options? It would be a shame to have another "homeless vet" on the streets..any advice?
If this man has no family, you need to contact APS/Office of Aging. (Where I live they r one and the same). Explain he has no family. You are just his landlord. If they find the man can no longer care for himself, they will take over. If no family, he will become a ward of the state and placed in a NH. His SS will be used for offsetting the cost of his care and Medicaid will pick up the rest. If u get nowhere with APS call the health department.
I would not get anymore involved than being the landlord. If you are close by, check on him, make sure he has food etc but make APS take control. If you have left food, make APS aware that if you hadn't, he would have nothing. They have to know he didn't buy it. Tell them there is a lease and its up such and such a time. That you have plans for the house. Don't allow them to use you.
So, essentially you've bought a house with a sitting tenant in it. As an aside, do you plan to live in this house, or do you aim to let it to a more suitable new tenant?
It would be reasonable and kind enough to call APS and bring it to their attention that an 80 year old man with no visible family support (yes?) is failing to thrive and ask them to check him out. But unless he's at clear, serious risk they're unlikely to do a lot.
Is he clearly at risk?
If you're happy to get more closely involved, you can speak to the gentleman and ask his permission to request a care needs assessment. Others will know if you should go through the VA for this? (anyone?) - or contact your Area Agency on Aging for advice.