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Jennifer, I think the V.A. might be a good place to start to try to get your uncle benefits. I am not sure if he can get placed in a home, or the V.A. hospital itself, or even if they will help him. As a U.S. citizen and former Coast Guard reservist, I would really hope so. Also, what about his employer, when he worked, did he possibly have a disability policy that could help him? He may also be able to get disability benefits from Social Security. The surgery you saw was probably a pallidotomy, which helps some symptoms of Parkinson's, but is not a cure. However, without knowing his particular condition, we don't know if that would help him. If you have followed the list for any time, you would see that often a second opinion from another doctor can make a big difference. He might be improved enough from medication changes, to become more independent, or even diagnosed as having something other than Parkinson's. This situation is a wake up call to anyone who is healthy now and does not believe in getting disability insurance, and whatever other coverage to protect against life's unpleasant surprises. I hope you can help your uncle and his family get through this tough time. [log in to unmask]