The short answer
It is your parent's decision. A federal guide written for widowed people suggests taking time to grieve before any big decision.
The choices include staying with help, a smaller place, moving nearer to family, moving in with a relative, or a place with care. What pays for each is the hard part. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care, and Medicaid depends on your parent's state's rules.
This chapter explains how things usually work in the United States. It is not legal, tax or financial advice, and the rules where you live may differ. Before you act on anything here, check it with one of the people named at the end of the chapter.
In the full chapter
The chapter explains what exists and what to ask, then ends with what to do, what can wait so you can set it aside, and who can answer the questions that are yours alone.
The rules, phone numbers and web addresses in this book were checked against the agencies’, courts’ and organizations’ own pages in October 2026. Where a rule differs by state, the book names one state as an example. Check anything you rely on with the office itself.
From Book 6: Your Surviving Parent
This page has the short answer from chapter 6. The full chapter explains, in plain words, what exists, what to ask, and who can answer. The book covers months 3 to 24 after the death.
Questions near this one
Other questions on related subjects, from this book and the others.
- Can Medicaid recover costs from the estate or the house? Book 3, Their Money
- Can I be paid for this? Book 2, Being in Charge
- How do I help without taking over my own life? Book 6, Your Surviving Parent
- What is worth selling, and what is an estate sale? Book 4, Their House
Hear when Your Surviving Parent is out
A short note when each book is out. Five or six emails a year at most. You can unsubscribe whenever you like.