Who helps the caregiver financially? There has to be a way for the caregiver to get some financial support.

What state do you live in? check out IHSS a state program you could be paid for caring for your mother... it is federal so it has to be in your state. Call the county,see if there are faith based places where elders usually get help(Jewish family services, Catholic Charities) you do not have to be of their faith to get help. Call Elder services in the county she lives in and ask for a social worker to come out and do an assessment. the limit on monthly income here is 2000.00 a month( for your mother) but there are ways you can spend it down( they include health care medications,etc.) please don't give up!

well if she has 682 leftover after the monthly rent thats good my mom gets $700 a month thats it so she cant afford a home- but ya i having hard time too -all siblings live far away- she sleeps alot i wake her at noon but will keep eyes closed til about 3 alz and dementia- i take her to my bible studies- she keeps her eyes closed -but i dint want her at home needs to be around people- you may be able to go thru in home supportive services to get paid for her care you can get up tp 96 hours a month -im in cali where are you - good luck- my husband works and gets paid good so thtats how were makin it good - will pray for u

I live in Md. Every place I call has a waiting list or she gets too much money monthly. And no thats not after her rent, thats why I had to remove her from the day care. Basically here in Md the bottom line is there are no more funds, and you would not believe some of the gov workers I talk to. They say wow what kind of work did your mom do that she gets $2,182 a month? Maybe I see another picture, this is 2010. Im tired now anyway and dont have the energy to fight this beaucratic state. Im trying to move to Wash State. I just want to be comfortable and cae for my mom until no longer able. Guess I just wanted to vent. Thank both of you for responding to me. Thanks for your prayers beta, thats all I have now and it carries me daily

Do you live in PA? There is something called the attendant care program through the Adult Aging Agencies. They can come out to evaluate your parents. If you are not the POA you are able to work dor your parents and get paid. I do not know what state you are in, but try calling the AAA of your county. I hope this is helpful. This is both for disabled adults 18-59 and aging adults 60 plus. Let me know what you find. happy holidays to you and your family, and it will be well with you. God bless

I see I'm not the only one in this situation. I really wish there were some kind of comprehensive explaination, we seem to be stuck in the donut hole of all donut holes
If anyone does come up with something, please let the rest of know?

we are all in the same boat! I am assuming we are all 50-60+ and are caring for our parents. Mine has Alzheimers, I am blessed KY has adult day-care it is from 8:30 to 1:00 this gives me a break and her some outside socialization. You are so right I quit a job of 8 yrs. in childcare to stay home to care for her. I keep 3 children but I took a large pay cut my hourly wage is down from $7.90 to $5.64. Dinner & a movie plus $10.hrly for sitter is about $170. so that doesn't happen often. Maybe 1x a year. So I know how u feel when the gov. pays the nursing homes $10.000. a mth why can't we get some compensation they would save loads of money anyway. Have a wonderful Christmas I will remember each of u in my prayers.

Thank you Ward, for reminding us all to make the best of what we have and to try to enjoy.

This entire system needs an overhaul and change of thinking b/c it is going to get worse as more of us age. I don't even think long term care insurance is the answer for the future, not only b/c it is so expensive, but also since many more will be aging and needing care that private insurance will not be able to keep up and will fold, like the insurance companies did when having to pay out for major hurricanes. Even tnose of us whose parents have minimal SS or SSI income and no assets do not get much help if you chose to allow your parent to stay in their home and help them, at least in my state, maybe 24 hours aide help a week, which is something but not if your family member needs 24 hr care and you have to be out working over 40 hours a week. Yet they will pay $10,000 per month Medicaid to a nursing home for less attentive care. What I could do with $10,000 a month to care for my parent! I have no children, paid local school taxes for years without complaint, yet when a family member ages and they are not independently wealthy and you have to work to live, your only choice is to put them in nursing homes or do what many of us are doing, losing our financial security and burning ourselves out. The laws should be changed to give more to help keep those elderly who are able to live in their communities with proper assistance, including to family members, than forcing them into a nursing home. Tbat would include instituting home visiting nurse practitioners who could monitor the health without requiring constant trips to dr offices just to get simple things taken care of.

Tiredcaregiver you hit it right on the head!!! I dont know what state you are in but it sounds like you have gone or going through the same thing I am. There is really no solutions to the caregiving unless like you said you are wealthy or have assests to give out. You understand just what Im going through. Merry Christmas and a restful New Year to you.

There is one organization that I know of that is trying to improve the situation we face- The National Family Caregivers Association, www.thefamilycaregiver.org , Is very politically motivated and worth becoming a member of.