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Since people are debating whether caregiving for their parents is biblically commanded or not:

1 Timothy 5:8 (The Message version)

"Take care of widows who are destitute. If a widow has family members to take care of her, let them learn that religion begins at their own doorstep and that they should pay back with gratitude some of what they have received. This pleases God immensely. You can tell a legitimate widow by the way she has put all her hope in God, praying to him constantly for the needs of others as well as her own. But a widow who exploits people’s emotions and pocketbooks—well, there’s nothing to her. Tell these things to the people so that they will do the right thing in their extended family. Anyone who neglects to care for family members in need repudiates the faith. That’s worse than refusing to believe in the first place."

People need to decide for themselves what they will do. Also, this doesn't apply to non-believers, since it is in the New Testament and written to believers.
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Geaton, it’s worth considering what is ‘Biblical’. The New Testament book ‘Timothy’ consists of letters from Timothy, who was a servant companion to Paul (and had the DIY circumcision). It was written over 20 years after Jesus died, by someone who had never met him. You need a lot of faith in 'inspiration' to treat this as the word of God.

The ‘Jefferson Bible’ was put together by Thomas Jefferson to collect all the quotes from Jesus himself – even though those, recollected at least 2 decades later, may be inaccurate. It’s a lot shorter than the New Testament, of which almost half is written by Paul.
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20 years ago my grandfather needed caregiving……he had 3 daughters & 1 son. Not one of them offered to be his caregiver so why should any of them expect caregiving for themselves now when they would like to stay in their own home.

I’m sure he would’ve like to stay in his home too but he made the best of it and actually enjoyed being around people his own age.
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Jada, they shouldn’t expect it. They should, instead, work hard and plan for their own future. I know that’s really difficult, especially in today’s world, but it is every parent’s responsibility….maybe their ONLY responsibility.
After all, a parent’s most important job is to make sure their children are equipped for a self-sustaining life in order to secure the future of their descendants. I honestly don’t know where humans went off track with that but the consequences are devastating.
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Margaret, to your point about "personally know" someone or be present at a historical occurence in order for it to be true/trustworthy: then no historical writer/writings can be trusted unless they were there in person and knew the historical figure personally or were an actual eye witness? Your viewpoint needs to be equally applied to all things, not just scripture. No school textbook would pass this criteria. Let's PM to continue this interesting discussion.
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I am a single mom of twins. If I allowed it, my father and stepmother would take every ounce of energy and time I have in an attempt to not go into AL, where they belong.

My responsibility is to my children. If I lost my job while taking care of my father, my 10-year-old girls would not have a home. There is no second income to safeguard us. It's just me.

My father can get full residential care at the VA for no cost but refuses it. I will not put my children in a compromising position because of their selfishness. I am also done fighting them. Eventually, the hospital will refuse to release him home, as he has been there 3 times in the last 6 weeks (him and his wife just keep checking each other out)

Most people can't live without a paycheck. Having a job is called being responsible
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Yes you are nuts to think that. Sure I do believe we should help out our parents when we can....provided they were a decent, non-abusive parent. That does not mean jeopardizing our futures and upending our lives so their life does not have to change. The person needing the help must be the one to compromise.

How did you manage caring for your parents without an income? Was someone else supporting you? Trust fund? Not everyone has that.
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I'd like to hear back from FloridaTentLady.

It should be evident now that grown children not helping their aging parents & other relatives is not a one-size-fits-all.

That judging someone asking how to get paid is short-sighted. Caregivers are people & people need money to live on.

It's not a widespread rotten generation, full of self-centered people without morals.

(Sure there are those types in the world. Some I personally encountered a few. Multiple versions of the 'Entitled', the 'House Hungry' &/or 'Inheritance Driven' familes. Prioritising keeping property or money over selling & spending it towards the elder's care).

It is a good discussion.. What we think we SHOULD do, what we WANT to do can be very different to what we CAN do. This is what can cause us pain.

I have met many people who dearly WANT to wrap their old Mom, Dad, Aunt, whoever up & take them home to care for but just could not. Due to many factors: care needs being too high, medical issues too complex, exit seeking & other behavious of concern, more hands needed.
Funds not there to hire extra help.

I've said it before.. life is not 'The Waltons' for most of us.
Not every elder is sitting smiling on the porch swing. Still independant with their ADLs (even still providing useful labour to the household). Allowing working age adults to freely work.

I am done here now.
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I hope FloridaTentLady doesn’t live in a “ tent “ because she lost her income and her home due to caregiving .
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Yes. Yes you are.
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