How to Handle Aging Parents

Texas: My Mom is 70 years old, has a heart condition; my Dad is 69 years old and has Parkinson's. They are both retired and live in their own home with 32 acres. They can no longer take care of the place. They've hired someone to help take care of Dad. They have allowed this person and her husband to move a trailer home onto their land. I asked them to put something in writing so they would know they would have 30 days to move off the property if the place was ever sold or something happened to my folks and their services were no longer needed. My Dad refuses to do this. My Mom is scared of my Dad because he threatens her. The lady that's been hired to help care for my Dad is now pregnant and may not be able to care him much longer due to her pregnancy. This leaves them living on my folks place for free. What can I do to keep them from taking advantage of my folks?

To my knowledge, my Dad has never hurt my Mom or anyone else, yet. His legs freeze up on him due to his illness. Yet, when he gets angry he wants to drive their van. He has no business driving, if his legs freeze up and he should have an accident, I don't know what would result. I pray this never happens and that should it, that no other innocent persons are involved. I can't talk them into selling the place or moving my Dad into a care facility. My Dad refuses, my Mom is scared to do anything. My Dad will not listen to me and gets mad when I make suggestions. He wants to remove my name from their bank savings account and before I know it, he'll want to remove me from their Will. My Mom's heart isn't strong enough to deal with this pressure. My Dad has threatened to harm her, a friend of theirs and an ex-employee. I've removed his guns from the house for fear he may use one on himself or someone else. Now, he keeps a knife in his room. I don't know what I can do legally to help protect my Mom and Dad from losing everything they've worked so hard for should the people that have moved in on their land to help my Dad decide to take advantage of the situation in any way, or if my Dad jumps in the van and drives off somewhere and hurts himself or some innocent person(s), or eventually hurt my Mom (he doesn't seem to remember any of these things afterwards). Is there anything I can do?

[Edited by cgpyle on 01-27-2001 at 09:50 AM]