As Dan Taylor points out in his book, The Parent Care Conversation, the person using this excuse doesn’t want to open themselves to a law suit from relatives who will criticize them over their care for the elderly parent.
This is the central problem with home care for the elderly. As their facilities and strength diminish, how will they manage their lives, and if they can’t who will?
One of the reasons that planning for elder care is not done is the reluctance of both parents and children to talk about money. Dan Taylor in his book The Parent Conversation is very insightful about this aspect of elder care.