My older brother (just turned 60) has been on disability for a large portion of his adult life. He is unable to work for numerous health reasons. The most recent of which was a heart attack and triple bypass surgery last November/December. He currently has a room in the house of his former girlfriend (they get along amicably) and she oversees his benefit dispersement. Anyway, he would like to get his own apartment, but says he was told he'd lose his benefits if he moved again. Can any of you Floridians point me in the right direction to help him out? He lives in Spring Hill north of Tampa. I'll be flying down to see him on August 14th and wanted to be prepared for some tough conversations. I really believe he needs to be in some kind of assisted living space. He doesn't want to go to "some old folks home."
He's had a rough life since birth. His lower legs were deformed (probably due to the effects of my Mom's cigarette addiction) and was in leg casts and braces until about age 5 or so. He was the unwanted first child and suffered as a result. He ended up in and out of foster homes until he was old enough to go out on his own at 18. The heart attack was a near death situation for him, and though he won't say it, he's afraid and scared right now. He struggles to understand some things and had the most minimal of education growing up. Conversations are limited to current things like sports, the weather, and how the rest of the family is doing. I talk to him every Monday since he had his heart attack. I really would like to help him into a better situation, but don't think Florida is the right state for him. I doubt he'd want to move anyway.
So any suggestions about helping him through the paperwork and bureaucracy would be helpful.
Thanks!
George
