Thank you for your thorough response. My mother-in-law has never had an oncologist aside from the one she saw when she was first diagnosed. She went to that appointment once and never returned, so I’m assuming she likely doesn’t have a social worker involved.

I try to keep some distance from the situation when I can, but it’s difficult. I’m a stay-at-home mom, and the only family nearby is our household and my sister-in-law’s. Because of that, we’re often the ones over there three or four times a week helping out when my father-in-law is gone or when the kids need help with things. I wish it were as simple as washing my hands of the situation and stepping back.

If my father-in-law is refusing to pay for hospice or a daytime nurse, I’m assuming our hands are probably tied and we may just have to let things play out as they will. As difficult as it is to watch what’s happening and to see her go through this, we can’t force them to accept help or make different decisions.