I am new to caregiving. What kind of help is out there for the elderly?

D:

In addition to any assistance the Experts in this forum can provide, I suggest you contact the Department for the Aging in your State. They might prove to be the one-stop shopping that you're looking for.

Also, use the Internet! ... There's tons of services out there, but you won't know unless your fingers do the walking. For assistance to elderly with low income, you can go to www.benefitscheckup.org/Elderly-Benefit. Also check out www.elderhelpers.org.

It's might not be much, but it's a start. Good luck my friend.

-- Ed

I truly hope you get this matter resolved...You could call DSS in your county,and ask what you need to do in order for your grandma to be able to go home. Not sure what the two open cases are? maybe it one is closed it would solve the problem. Their has to be a way to work it out. How caring of your mom to take care of grandma when she is sick herself. I wish their was some way I could help.
Please just make a couple calls tom. morn, and lets get grandma home where she belongs. The system stinks, but its there to help. Sometimes we have to make our selfs really heard in order for them to know we aren't gonna leave them alone until they help. Its their job. It also makes me so angry. Why do these people get into these professions if they don't have the compassion to deal with the elderyl. I wanted to take CNA classes so I can work with elderly because I have such a tender heart for the elderly. My back makes nursing out of question, but I wish. The more I go on this site the more I relize that I'd love to be advocate for the elderly. I know I went off subject, but the question being asked shouldn't have to be asked. The people that have those jobs need to be doing them. Best wishes!

Everyone that posted above have offered wonderful suggestions. I would like to add - if your grandfather was a veteran, then grandma may qualify for veteran's benefits for either at home care or nursing home/assisted living. The amount can be quite substantial. The website is www.veteranaid.org and you need to click on the "Aid & Attendance Program". The Veterans administration itself will guide you through the paperwork. Or check to see if your County has a "veterans dept." - many do and they will help you through the paperwork. It is all done for free with no strings attached. The money is there for veterans and their spouses and they want you to benefit. I will tell you there are many organizations out there however, that will tell you that they assist you in preparing this paperwork and their service is for "free" - however they are in reality insurance investors who will assist with the paperwork but also will try to have you invest grandmas money. These companies usually have seminars at assisted living facilities or local civic organizations. Remember go directly to someone who works for the Veteran's Administration or County Veteran's Rep.. It can take many months after the paperwork is submitted to receive benefits, but the money received, if approved, is all retroactive back to the date paperwork was submitted. Good luck!

I echo what Eddie has suggested: there are a ton of resources on the internet and in particular I suggest starting with the Visiting Nurse Association of America.(http://vnaa.org/vnaa/siteshelltemplates/homepage_navigate.htm) However, if you're in the New York area contact the Visiting Nurse Service of New York at (www.vnsny.org) which provides a range of services from long term medical care programs to physical therapy and personal needs like bathing and laundry.
They can help you navigate the waters of this difficult situation.

In addition to the great resources recommended above, I would include:

www.eldercare.gov to identify your local area agency on aging. Great searchable database here. They may also have a case manager or benefits manager you can work with.

http://resnaprojects.org/nattap/scripts/nattapcontacts.pl for your state's assistive technology project. They can tell you about environmental control systems, alert systems, reachers, grabbers, large print phones and remote controls, and much, much more.

Check with the local library about books on tape and other options for people who are blind/low vision or have disabilities. They will ship books and equipment free of charge.

Check into hospice care too. You can have hospice care in the home or at a facility. It sounds like Gma would qualify. Start by calling a company who does hospice care - they are the best resource for information.
Also, was either grandparent a veteran? There is some assistance there too.
good luck

If she owns a home, she can get a reverse mortage on it and use that for care. We got no help, had to sell moms home to pay for her care,which is now gone ,so I quit my job. She receives the veterans A&A which brings her to $75 over the medicaid limit so she will continue to get nothing. I wish you luck in your State.