Is this jade plant dead?

Hello,

I apologize if this is the wrong place to post. I'm very new to all this gardening stuff so I thought the beginner section would be best.
A while ago my friend realized her cacti/succulents weren't doing so well. To my knowledge, they hadn't been getting enough sun or water. I just got into gardening and I have a gardening store near my house (Stein Gardens and Gifts) with people who are very knowledgable so I offered to watch over them and see if they're dead or if there's anything I can do.
There were 3 types of cacti. One of them was confirmed dead at the store. He said the golden barrel (if that's what it is) looked alright and it didn't look like it had bugs. The guy there said that the jade plant might be able to be saved because there was still some green on it. He said there were bugs on it too. Because these plants have sentimental value, he said that I could take the dried out parts on, put it on a wet paper towel or wet soil and see if the roots came out. If it did, he suggested I use this product called Eight to get rid of the bugs.
This is the fourth day I've had them. The jade plant has been on a paper towel that I've regularly changed because it got cold after a while. I just moved it to a thing with wet soil but in the process a lot of the big leaves came out. I'm worried that it may be already dead. The man at the store said the chance of saving it is slim but I thought I'd bring it up to you guys.
I did see a bug on it too. It was a small white flat thing. He told me I should wait until the roots come out if I'm going to treat them but I'm afraid the plant won't get better, being as as small as it is now, with them on it. Are there any gentle ways I can get the bugs off but keep the plant okay?
I'm just wondering what to do. The pictures of the jade plant with the rocks around it was taken earlier this week (monday) and the pictures of it with the soil were taken today (friday). I also attached a picture of the golden barrel to see what you guys think about it.
Thanks!

I agree with your worry about the bugs. I can't see what they are, but I suspect mealy bugs. Here is my advice:
Use a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol. Touch the bugs. They get soaked and usually stick to the Q-tip. Throw it away. Some of the alcohol usually gets on the plant but does not ever seem to do harm. This can be done today.
For more long term:
Two choices, or use both:
For now or anytime there is a very non-toxic insecticide called Azamax. It is fairly new. Not a poison in the usual sense, it is a hormone type drug that prevents insects from making new skeleton material. This can be sprayed on anytime. It is fairly new, if local garden center does not have it it can be ordered on the internet-it is a concentrate so one small jug will last a VERY long time (I use two tsp (10 mL) per 24 oz sprayer). I never use it outside as it will kill all bugs good or bad but inside I don't want any bugs at all anyway.
Once the plant is healthier and has new roots, you can put Bonide Systemic insecticide granules on the potting soil and water it it. It IS poison, and is sucked up by the roots and put into the leaves, so any insect that has a meal, it is the LAST meal. It seems to last for months. This one I also would not use outside for the same reasons. I don't use spray poisons in the house because I don't want to inhale it, or have it settle on the furniture.
Good luck! Let us know how it works out.

I'm afraid more leaves have fallen out and it's looking somewhat flat. I'm leaving it where it was but I'm pretty sure it's dead.

I also believe that there are bugs in the golden barrel, near the top. I could be wrong but it looks like there are those little bugs in there. Is it too small or too young to use Amazax on it? It's about 1 inch in diameter.

Or are there any other home remedies that I can use that won't harm the little plant? With the other two cacti dying, I would really like to make sure this one is okay.

The pictures I have attached were just taken. In the golden barrel, I'm trying to show the possible bugs a bit better. The other picture is what's left of the jade plant. The full plant (if you can call it that) is right in the middle. The things surrounding it are just leaves that fell out.

Thank you for your time. Please help if you know what I can do or if you know if it's dead or not.

I would spray the Azamax on both. You are likely right about the Jade being a lost cause, but they can sometimes come back from a very small live part so wait a bit longer before you toss it in the trash.

If pos, put both plants into a smaller pot, still use the small gravel / stones to prevent the wet / damp soil touching the plants.
My own opinion is the plant are getting too much water, they thrive in crevices in between rocks, so they don't like a lot of water, BUT never allow them to sit in over dry soil in strong sunlight like sun through a glass window, this causes dehydration of the plant and they shut down because of loss of air, over heating etc.
I have both these plants growing in a greenhouse and believe me, they thrive on neglect.

As for the bugs, when you re-pot the plants, hold the Cacti in a plastic bag or news paper, turn the plants upside down and run gently under a running tap with look-warn water to try flush away any of the bugs, then mist the top and bottom of the plant with a week solution of either vinegar -water mix, allow it to stay on the plant for an hour.
Next place the plant into a small pot filled with a mixture of seed compost, sand and grit, this will allow the plants to get air around the roots, soil mix that is free draining and some food from the seed compost.
Water the plants from below, that is, you sit the pot into a saucer of water, leave till the soil turns darker, this means the soil has taken up enough water, next you need let the pot drain away any excess water before placing the pot back onto a drip saucer and place the plants in good light BUT not direct sunlight. DONT water or feed the plants till you stick finger into the soil to test IF the soil is dry, if still damp. leave watering for another few days and text the soil again.

IF you still see bugs, you need to re-mist using any type of alcohol mix and do this once a week till the bugs are gone.
I suggest in some ways you have been way too kind to the plant and overdone the so called kindness offered because they were neglected BUT apart from the bugs, the plants have gone from one extreme to the other, NO water then too much water, we all have done this at some time in our gardening lives, we just have to learn over watering, or over feeding is as bad as too little care and attention.

Hope you can save your plants, this is NOT an over night cure or even a week long predcription, just a start to getting the plant healthy again.
Good luck.
Best Regards.
WeeNel.

WeeNel gives excellent advice, as always.