There are more than 200 seniors living in The Villages, Florida, with adult children having developmental and/or physical disabilities. Most of us still drive our kids to work, to medical appointments, and to social activities. We continue to keep extensive records up-to-date to comply with agency requirements like Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), Social Security Administration (SSA), and Medicaid. And, we routinely complete and submit complex and comprehensive forms to renew or apply for new agency programs. We have done all this throughout our children’s lifetime, but are now facing problems that are common to seniors like mobility difficulties, illnesses, a spouse with dementia or the loss of a spouse. Many of us are also caring for a parent, caught in the “sandwich generation”. We are worried because we have yet to receive services or are struggling to keep support staff to care for our loved one, and time is running out.
Our kids are often dealing with physical and behavior challenges and vulnerable to scams and dangerous situations. Most important, we know our children do not easily handle transition. It would be so reassuring to know that services are in place before we can no longer provide daily care for our loved ones. They should not have to wait for a crisis, and we do not have to do this alone. Families working together can wade through the many hurdles to bring the peace of mind we deserve.
Any parent/caregiver 70 years or older will be placed in the APD Category 4 list when you provide legal documentation to prove your age, like a Florida drivers license or ID card. Even if you are on the APD Pre-enrollment List now, you cannot assume you are placed correctly in Category 4 and that our children will soon to be receiving services. It is imperative that you check your child’s category placement with APD, and if it is not in Category 4 or higher, you need to contact your case coordinator.
