Father-in-law, 81, sold his $75,000 home to pay his daughter's $50,000 debt. How can I keep him from becoming destitute?

An 81-year-old father-in-law in a small Illinois town sold the family home in July for $75,000, originally bought around $7,500 in 1972, to pay off his own bills and a $50,000 debt owed by the daughter. The daughter-in-law says the proceeds are gone and nothing has been set aside for his future needs, raising concerns that her husband may eventually be expected to provide support. The Moneyist advises that housing security is the first priority and notes that Medicaid’s five-year lookback depends on the type of transactions. Paying another person’s debt could potentially trigger scrutiny, depending on circumstances. Capital-gains and related tax questions are also raised.