Folks Of Interest Gene Winfields “care giver” problems

I spent the last three and a half years giving 24/7/365 care to either my parents or my wife. My Dad passed in 2021 at 92, my wife died 3-1/2 weeks later of Gliobastoma and Mom died this past April at 94. I was lucky to have two brothers to help split the time with my parents. Growing up my parents cars sat outside so that us boys could have the garage to work on our cars and they encouraged us to pursue our Hot Rod hobby. When they needed our help 24/7/365 we didn't hesitate to be there for them. No way would we let a stranger care for them.

 

i'm envious that your brothers helped. when mom got bad with alzheimers and i started writing the checks, he disappeared and could no longer be bothered. funny thing, she couldn't remember my name, but never forgot his!

 

I think a lot of us have taken care of an elderly parent, including myself. It's just the right thing to do. Hoping I have given my kid a good example for when my time comes.

Also, sometimes a family member is the abuser. My ex wife was convicted of elder abuse of her own mother(financial and emotional).......

 

My grandmother was a handful, to say the least. But her/my family took care of here as long as we could. Her youngest son built her a house, the family chipped in for a care giver for as long as that worked. We finally had to put here in a nursing home, because we could not find the proper caregiver. Things were fine for years, my grandmother forgot my name , when my father and I visited here every week. Then she forgot my father’s name and she just slept most of the time and rarely responded. At her 100 birthday, I was reluctant to go, actually only went to possibly see other relatives. Lo and behold grandma was back! Talking and responding and being her old unruly self! My older sister ask grandma “ How are you doing” grandma responded “ I do as I please” at 100 years of age!
What I hope to share, from this long post is.. watch out!! Caregivers can drug old people. There is no way I can help Gene…..but maybe I can help a HAMB member, who has an elder in a care facility.


I wish Gene all the best, in the future. He’s a tuff guy! Hang in there Gene.





Bones

 

Lets not forget there are other vulnerable adults as well.
My wifes cousin is the last in his immediate family.
At 55 he is the nicest guy, but nieve and gulable.
Would literally give you the shirt off his back.
Has a neighbor that is trying to buy his home/land and telling him to keep it on the 'hush hush'
That has been stopped with my wife becoming his conservitor.

 

Most likely some of her "associates".

 

There are a lot of Caregivers here.
The posts are a good read.

Folks may of heard of Dennis Carpenter
of Concord, North Carolina.
He was the founder of
Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts.
He passed away in November of 2020
so I never got to meet him but I did get
to meet his son Daniel who had taken over
running the family business a few years
before his Father passed away at 82.

What took Dennis Carpenter’s life
was Covid - but not in the way you
would expect.

Just about every day he was at
the business he started - puttering
around - keeping busy - Living.

Out of fear he would catch Covid
the family kept him at home where
they thought he would be “ safe “.

That - took away his Spirit and he
rapidly declined.

My point is - Gene Winfield lives
because he continues to be involved
in what was his Passion for so many
years now.


Jim

 

Gene is a treasure.....and should be treated as such. Last I heard, he was moving to a new location. Didn't get to talk to him at LARS. I wanted to know where he was moving to. Anybody know if that's true or where?
Get well soon Gene!!!!! We all love you here....

 

Anyone dealing with parent care should talk to an attorney who specializes in 'elder law', preferably well before any issues come up. My mother had her 'power of attorney' drawn up by a non-specialist and it took me three years and several other attorneys to sort out the mess created from his omissions. And if you have the slightest suspicion that their competency is failing, have them checked by a medical doctor. They can be pretty good at concealing things until they can't but your options at that point will be limited. It's a hard lesson to learn... that took five years to sort out and the stress ruined my stomach (I ended up needing surgery, although I can't blame all of it on her. I also had three teen-age boys that were taking turns screwing up at the same time and a vindictive ex-wife. I employed eight attorneys over five years sorting all the messes).

And if you have older siblings, they may end up in your lap. My 15-years-older sister developed Alzheimer's and while her son took care of the legalities, he lives on the opposite coast so I became the 'boots on the ground'. He was slow to recognize the issue despite my warnings (I was much more aware after dealing with my mother) and ended up having to put his life on hold for three months to deal with it.

Don't be caught unawares! One thing is if they drag their feet over any of this, that just makes it more likely there's trouble coming. Nobody likes losing their independence, but people with Alzheimer's or dementia can't reason properly. It's in everyone's interests to have a proper plan in place.

 

He and that woman have chased away pretty much every friend he had. Long time friends.

 

From what I had read, from the "carer" seemingly with Gene's approval, that was his property etc in Mojave was going to be auctioned off, and Gene wanted to open/donate stuff to a museum (The American Graffiti one in Modesto, Gene's home town would have been great). However, the auction was postponed very early in the morning on the day it was supposed to happen, and then it all went quiet....

Fast Forward to a week or so ago and this thread and information started appearing.

This information is just what I personally have seen/read on Genes Instagram and Facebook pages.

 

....So very sad, Jim. I've often said, when one loses his /her passions in life, whether it be cars, art, dancing, traveling or even the work that they love, the end will soon come.

 

Met Gene over the years at different events in the Eastern US. Always a great guy willing to show you his ideas and have an interest in what you might be building. In 2016 he offered to sign the dash in my 56 Custom ElCamino at one of our local cruise nights he attended. Wishing him all the best and a full recovery.

 

I had read on Instagram, he was moving....then I heard this. We'll find out when he gets out and better.

 

I just went through what Crazy Steve went through (Post (99) with my mother who passed away last month at 97. I am the oldest child and the the only one who lives locally. The Dementia advanced more rapidly as time passed.
I don't know if Gene was able to save some of his things to go to a museum or not but a lot of stuff listed in that auction was just junk that he may have been better off to just have hauled for scrap. Too many junk cars with nothing more than scrap yard value, mobile homes and what not that had nothing to do with his life as a customizer.

 

This is what Rob Ida said on FB last week....Gene still plans to be in Syracuse in two weeks to judge his “Winfield Award”.

 

How did Gene end up in another state? Sounds like they were in New Mexico

 

Gene does have a small museum on his property, the building right behind his shop and office.

 

He was talking about something more accessible to more people and with more stuff on display. Hence the mentions of the Modesto American Graffiti Museum. Where he is from.

 

they’ve been traveling around the country in an RV

 

WTF ? Did he move to Wyoming?

 

Traveling through is my understanding

 

I think the museum should be in Mojave at his shop. If you build it they will come as they say.

 

The property is being sold....well...it was....before this all started.

 

Any updates on Gene?

 

Looks like maybe his son finally got the password to his instagram account (I hope).

Also seems like the piece of trash that did this to him got out of jail and has access to her phone as she removed herself from his account and has either deleted her account or blocked everyone.

It's great to see an update like this posted to his account!

 

I suspect the skank may have frozen the account, comments are disabled. So no info is really being shared... possessive "post's" ?

 

When does this case go to trial ?

 

Passed by his old place this afternoon. Nothing to see

 

That's GREAT NEWS,ROB.THANKS FOR SHARING!