I live in South Carolina, and have been caregiver to husband , 24/7, since I quit my job, 4 yrs. ago, to care for him at home. He's 71 yrs. old, paraplegic, whom is bed-ridden, due to severe decubitu
...Read MoreI live in South Carolina, and have been caregiver to husband , 24/7, since I quit my job, 4 yrs. ago, to care for him at home. He's 71 yrs. old, paraplegic, whom is bed-ridden, due to severe decubitus ulcer, and now has stage #3 Alzheimers. Our only income is his 637.00 SSI check, per month. We get 147.00 worth of food stamps, that last 2 wks. Our utilities run over 300.00 per month. He has to sleep in an electronic, fluidized, Clinitron Air Bed, 24/7, which must run 24/7, with air condition an electric fan, so the room will remain at a certain tempperature. When I resigned my job, in 2004, half of our income went down the drain, but not the monthly bills, causing a tremendious amount of stress upon the 2 of us. I asked questions of medicaid, as to why isn't there some kind of grant through the Government, that will pay the spouse/cargiver for taking care te spouse, since her job had to be given up? I was told no such thing in South Carolina, because I chose to give up my job, to care for my husband, istead of putting him in some kind of nursing facility. This truly hurt my feelings. I've been married to this man for 40 yrs. 10 months, and am very much in love with him. We've always had each other, and live alone. Everyone who know us, can vouche for the care and love,I give to my husband, even with alzheimers. If medicaid can have a program, called, "CASH and Counciling", in some states, for other family members and friends, why not in all states, and include the spouses, like me? We're truly suffering, because how un-feeling our government is, with its disabled citizens, and spouses/caregivers. I'm open to feedback. minerva