‘The hell that they put me through’: Nursing homes suing caregivers for debts they don’t owe, regulator says (msn.com)
Hello; This just as a beware sort of thing. Had a similar thing tried after my father died. He owed a few companies. I received bills after his death for some of his debts. I wrote letters saying something along the line that i had nothing to do with his debts. I also lived in a different state from him which may have helped stop the collection notes.
I did two things before his death. One is any financial help I gave him was in cash. Not because I knew better, only because that was the way I often do business when i can and such was better when dealing with him. That may have helped keep me from being dunned for his debt. I was told later that had i personally paid any of his bills from say my checking account or on a credit card, such might be enough to create an avenue of liability. I did give him money but we always used his checking account to pay his bills.
I was involved in helping him get some things arranged. Things such as medical equipment. A hospital bed and other things. I did not sign for the equipment. I only helped by making phone calls and such to various agencies.
I may have been helped by living 350 miles away in a different state. I did make a lot of trips over the years during long weekends and my vacation time. So, it was natural to set things up, so I did not have to be present all the time. Some things i could do by mail. Some things, such as taking him to the VA, I arranged for when i could travel. Got to be a bit easier after I retired.
Anyway, after he passed his creditors sent me due bills. I eventually came up with a stock reply and never paid any payments. The way i was told is if I made a payment such could be seen as a sign of acceptance of the debt. If my actions seem less than proper there was a reason. My father was generally irresponsible about finances and became more so as he got older. I had learned to not be directly involved many years earlier. I often wound up having to get involved after some events to help with his basic needs. Anyway, he made it to 83.