Question 

I am looking for a solution for my father’s yard maintenance. Dad is in his 80s and not really able to care for his yard anymore. I cut the grass for him, but it needs more than the time I have for it. 

Dad says to just leave it, but it does not look nice. He has weeds everywhere, shrubs that need pruning, beds that need mulch, and bare spots in the lawn. His yard needs more attention than I can give it. It is noticeably the least kept house in his subdivision.  

My father can easily afford to pay for his yard care, but he is very tight-fisted with his money. I think he is afraid that it will cost more than what it is worth to him. Or he just does not like people in his yard. 

I am wondering how most people handle this situation? 

Answer 

Your father is likely grateful that you are cutting his grass, and he either thinks that is good enough, or he is hopeful that you will also take care of the rest. 

This problem is common. It is so common, in fact, that almost everyone who owns a home and stays in that home into old age has the same challenge that your father is experiencing. They can no longer use their bodies in the way they used to. Landscape work is quite physical, and it is often an area neglected by the elderly.   

Let your father know that the yard is not up to the local standards and that you will seek out a couple of solutions. Be honest with him about your capabilities. Assure him that you will continue what you have been doing, if that is the case.  

I would get several estimates from yard care companies that you can present to him. You might ask around if there is someone in the area that does this type of work as a summer job. Assure him that you will hire someone for him and monitor that the work is done. Gently let him know that to stay in his home it will need to be cared for, and it is much cheaper to live in a paid for home than a facility. There are going to be expenses, like taxes, utilities, and yard care. If he would like, do a cost comparison for him of monthly expenses living in his home versus a local assisted living. Assuming his home is paid for and not extremely large, he will likely find that he has a good deal where he is. Either way he is going to have to pay for the expense of landscape care, either at home, in a rental, or in an assisted living facility. Elsewhere it is being taken care of, but you are surely paying for that service in your monthly rent.  When you can no longer do it yourself, it becomes an expense that everyone incurs.  

It is hard to get old and lose the mobility you once had. Yard work usually becomes the first area that someone will struggle with, because it requires balance, bending over to the ground, kneeling, decent vision, and dexterity. There is also the possibility that he was not the one weeding the beds in the past. There is often one gardener in the family, and it might not have been him.  He may not know a weed from a perennial and may not be sure where to begin or have any interest in learning. 

As hard as it is, it is time to have a talk about how this work is going to get done. Your father is going to complain about it. He may even say to let it go as it does not matter. Assure him that it is no longer an option as his home is starting to look neglected.  Let him know you will collect the resources and carry on from there. 

I wish you well in solving the spring yard work dilemma. It is not an easy situation to resolve, though a common one to experience.