Managing the home during a crisis
- Where you are
- What you need
- 3Your guidance
You've made it — here's the guidance for your situation.
When a parent is hospitalized or moves suddenly into care, the home doesn't take care of itself. Bills still need to be paid, mail piles up, and the property needs to be secured and maintained. This is often the task that falls through the cracks.
Immediate steps
Secure the property — make sure it's locked and a trusted person has a key Forward or collect mail Identify and pay time-sensitive bills: mortgage, utilities, insurance Cancel or pause subscriptions and recurring services Check on any pets that may have been left behind
If financial power of attorney is in place
You can manage your parent's finances directly — pay bills, access accounts, handle ongoing expenses. Keep careful records of everything you do on their behalf.
If documents aren't in place
You may be limited in what you can access. Talk with an elder law attorney quickly about your options. Acting early prevents complications.
Thinking longer term
If your parent is unlikely to return home, decisions about the property will need to be made — whether to sell, rent, or maintain it. There's no need to rush these decisions immediately, but understanding the options early helps. Real estate decisions in this context often involve probate, trust, or title questions that benefit from professional guidance.
Next step: the site's guides explain the property options in more detail, and Real Property Planning's Find a Professional page lists independent professionals you can contact directly.
Find a ProfessionalYour next questions
Should we sell the house to pay for care?
How a parent's home is sold to fund senior living in Washington, step by step, and what it means for taxes and Medicaid.
Could a reverse mortgage pay for care instead?
How reverse mortgages work for Washington seniors, and what happens when the borrower moves into care.
Will Medicaid pay, and what happens to the house?
Apple Health long-term care in Washington: eligibility, the home exemption, spend-down and the five-year look-back.