If he is having financial trouble, he may want to reconsider retiring. I consider 55 too young to retire unless one is really in bad health. I worked for the government for 30 years and then retired at 47 (I got a special wavier on the 55 year age requirement). Went to work for them when I was 20 but I got credit for my sick leave that gave me 30 years. I stayed retired for a whole month, then found a new job. Forty seven was too young to retire. I am now 59 and have a bad heart that they say they can't operate on but I still go to work every day at something I like to do. Maybe your father should find a job to supplement his retirement. Something that is less strenuous than being a millwright and something he would like. The key is "something he would like". I have two close friends that are millionaires many times over. Yet they go to work every day. Why? Because they love their work. If you like what you are doing, 55 is to young to quit doing it.
Hospital bills are often negotiable if you set down with them and show them that you are willing to pay but just can not afford it. I have a friend who owed the hospital over a $100,000 and after a hospital committee reviewed his finances they cut his bill 90%. He couldn't get the doctors to cut their bill but he did get the hospital to cut theirs. If you ask the worse that can happen is they say, no.