To ghairston: She might but that is really determined by the doctor's diagnosis and her inability to perform activities if daily living. Be aware that Medicare does not pay for more than 100 days - and those only if she shows constant improvement. After that, she is on her own for payment or must go on title 19 which requires a spend down of her assets to the qualification level. Check with the state you live in for details and read the article on this site "Spend Down to Medicaid."

My mother had a stroke a year ago. She spend 100 days in skilled rehab. She is diabetic and now has a wound that is taking a long time to heal. Due to the stroke she is not walking well and needs to have someone with her at all times. Currently she is staying with a slibing and the other siblings rotate weekends. It is becoming a hardship for the rest of the family coming from afar to help. Does she qualify for nursing home care?

Can someone explain what an "illegal divestiture" is? Does this mean that if a parent goes on Medicaid, he or she cannot be claimed as a dependent by the caregiver? Are there any circumstances in which someone could receive Medicaid benefits and be claimed as a dependent, at the same time?
Thanks for any and all responses!

For those of you caring for a Disabled/Retired Military Member;

I am a recent Military Retiree, please contact your Veteran Association Rep or the nearest American Legion, they will steer you in the direction you need to go for Medical/Perscription needs.

I currently pay $460 a year for family TRICARE that allows me to choose my own doctor, if they accept TRICARE and has a small copay on presciptions filled off of a Military Base.

You will need thier DD 214, proof of Military Service, if you cannot find it, you will need to contact the VA about getting a replacement copy. This will be a long and arduous process!

Hope this helps!

Any more questions please ask and I will try to help out as much as possible.

Jack

Hello. I have a special needs child. She is 7 now. I had to quit work when she was born. I have had no med. insurance. Just can't afford it. She receives SSI but it goes by her fathers income. Some months $0-$500. Recently I moved my mother in with us. She has COPD, on oxygen 24/7. She has also fell a few times and broke her wrist, shoulder and tailbone. She has had surgeries and going through pain management. She receives $244.00 a month is all. I was wondering if there were any kind of programs out there for me? I can't send her to a nursing home and will not, if it kills me! Our house is too small and literally falling apart, floors are falling in, the plumbing is awful, etc. We just can't afford anything at all extra. I desperately need help!

You know, my husband had brain surgery to take care of two aneurysms. Taking him to the rehab and then home was tough. I thought. Then I had to work with him, the nurses three times a week, social workers, once; case workers, doctors and boy! This was just me and my husband. I really feel for those of you who have two parents, and others to care for and this is besides the financial and work related problems you face also! I was off work for two months and then I got to go back to work. It is so trying on your patience and mental fatigue! Sometimes you just want to give up, or disappear for awhile. That would be nice, but we can't do that. Caregivers are selfless people who stay in there and just keep on giving. What goes around comes around, and it will be us some day receiving the care. Keep on giving.

Kakate4.........I can sympythize with you. My husband and I are in the same boat. We lost our house to the ARM whenhe was diagnosed with Hep C and had to retire from his job. He is 59, so he can't drwa SS. My mom has Alzhiemers so we moved inwith her so I could take care of her. It is 24/7. My husban d finally found a part time job but it barely pays for necessities. It is enough that we can't get finacial help. (We are just over).We have no ins for him, myself, and our mentally challenged daughter. My mom has a small pension. She retired in 84. She has SS but it isn,t much. We don't qualify for any kind of help because she owns her house. I did find a place that gives a caregivers grant and it pays for my mom to go to Adult Day Care. It gives me a day to clean her room, wash her clothes, etc. She gets so agitated when anyone messes with her room and things. I pay Nurses To Go $40 to come in and give my mom a bath because she fights me so bad. Most places want a minimum of $20 an hour with a 4 hour min. I can't afford that! I can't afford the $40 either but it eases things for me some. As far as a nursing home........we would lose the house. I never get more than a few hours sleep because she is up and down. She is so unhappy and combative. If you find about being paid to take care of her, please let me know. I used to wonder when seniors would say they could either get their meds or eat. Now I understand.
I left a job of 20 years. It was in retail so I have no pension. We had some savings but used it when my husband was sick. When we moved in with my mom, she owed 3 years real estate taxes. We have barely managed to pay a years to keep it from going up for tax sale. I feel like all I do is referee between everyone. Sometimes I just go in my room and close the door to drown them all out.
Good luck Kakote4. Wish I had something better to tell you. Maybe someone will give us both some helpful info..............

Have you thought about putting him in a nursing home - being paid by medicaid? You will only pay for the first 30 days and then medicaid pays for it. That is what I was told.

My father has ALS and I am caring for him 24/7. My family moved in to my father's house (my husband and two little girls 3 and 1). I'm finding it is extremly draining financially and physically. I need help caring for him for everyone's sake. Does anyone know who I can contact about getting someone in here for nights. We have little money, my dad has military retirement and social sercurity disability retirement, it's enough to manage the household bills but nothing more. My husband's income goes toward food and my dad's medical bills and nothing extra. We do not qualify for assistance(just over). I need someone to come in at night so that I can get some sleep, that does not cost or cost little. Is there anything out there like that. How do I get paid to take care of my dad. Any suggestions on what to do would be helpful.

So many people get depressed over their once loving relationships with Alz patients. Don't take it personally. It's the disease and not the person. In some ways they are probably so frustrated themselves that they take it out on the ones they love.

When hygiene becomes an issue, I saw somewhere on this site that you can get a doctor to talk to them and write out instructions like a prescription! Your mom is more likley to accept the input from the doctor than her own daughter.

Just know that underneath it all, she's your mom and truly does love you. Life just dealt her a cruel blow.

Thank you so much!! You are right! I get relaxation reading other peoples postings. It makes it a little easier just knowing that I am not alone! Sometimes it sure feels like it. Sometimes I get so upset trying to make my mom happy! It just seems like nothing makes her happy anymore. It is so sad because she use to be so outgoing and vibrant. She was so careful about her apperance and now I can't get her to even bathe or change her clothes without a war. She seems to get more upset with me than anyone else. I'm told that is pretty common since her and I were very close.

Thanks for the kind words! The goal of this website is not only to provide useful information to caregivers, but also to create a sense of community. Information and resources are great, but sometimes what caregivers need more than anything else is to communicate with someone in a similar situation -- an "online" shoulder to cry on, if you will. Caregivers are special people and we're happy to provide a forum for you to connect and share with others.

When you become a caregiver and you are looking over medicare, medicaid, organizations and the like, you realize that money plays a big part in our sound mind. I did not know what to ask for, what the qualifications there were, and just who there was available to help. Well, I came here and found all sorts of help. Still, I have found that communication seems to help soothe some anxieties that alot of us experience. When you find out that you don't qualify and that medicare is exhausted and the only help is leftr is you, it is tough! I have found people here on these communities that have been in the caregiving field for many years and offer lots of support! Just when I feel all alone, there are others who care! And that is huge!!! To know that there is someone that cares! Reaching out and telling a part of your story and then offering support is so priceless!

Thank you so very much for answering. I like to go to the computer and your answer gave me a site to go to. Also, thanks for refering me to a CPA in my local area. I had been to a CPA and he is very good. I will check out the site.

Fancicoffee: While we can't give you individual advice on your taxes and finances, a qualified financial planner or CPA in your area will have the answers you need and be able to give state- and region-specific information. Tax laws, caregiver reimbursement and other financial issues vary widely by state. A good place to start is the financial planners association: http://www.plannersearch.org/

Fancicoffee..........I was wondering too. I have only posted once but haven't gotten a response. Just thinking no one has an answer for me. If so, ok. Good luck to you Fanci. I took care of my husband for a year with Hep C. Now it's my mom.

I live in Texas, am a caregiver for my husband, and it is tax time. I was a caregiver for a short time, December of 'o7 through February of '08. His home care runs out in March of '08 and am just now learning about these tax tips. Can I count on my tax man to help me out on this? Thank you for this board. Please answer.

I became a caregiver for my husband and did not know about this. How do I find out what receipts to keep? Do I keep all receipts for purchase of medications, gas, etc.? We filed a joint tax thing last year, will that exclude us from all the tax relief things this year if I file separate and claiming him as a dependent (plus I meet all the other qualifications). He is improving and I am able to go back to work, just need to know all of this so if anything else happens, I will be collecting all these receipts. And I need to know who to contact locally that will help me. Thank you for this board!

I also am taking care of my 86 year old mother. She is in the late stages of Alzhiemers. I have a 33 year old mentally challenged daughter also. The only income we have is my moms pension ($487.00 a month and my daughters SSI($623.00 a month). My mom also gets SS. We are $200.00 a month over to qualify for help. I am looking for someone to help with personal hygiene help with my mom. Most homecare companies charge $20 an hour with a 4 hour minimum. We can't afford that. Any ideas?

I believe that you would have to become his guradian in order to apply. But each state has different rules and departments that handle this. In general, it's something like the Dept. of Children and Family Services, Dept. of Human Serives or Social Services for your state. There is compensation available, but he may need to be in your home all the time.

has anyony heard of a program that provides compensation to a person that cares for a brother ( in this) case who receives disability and has all of his life. Until her death my mother had always taken care of my brother and I do it now. Sometimes he lives with me and sometimes I rent him a nearby close apartment. He cannot make any financial decisions by himself, does not recieve enough disability to pay rent, ytilities and buy food so I pay the balance. Several people have told me that tere is a service like this, but I can't seem to find any information. Thanks

In answer to both questions above, I would direct you to a great service from the AOA. They have a number you can call that can get you the resources and information you need. Call 1-800-677-1116 for the Eldercare Locator.

This came from a study by the Family Caregiver Alliance:

Most states (all but six) pay families to provide care in at least one of their state-administered programs. We asked state program administrators: "Can family members be paid to provide care in your program?"

Over half (57%), or 86 out of 150, in 44 states and the District of Columbia) say they do. Only Alaska, Delaware, Mississippi, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Tennessee do not allow payments to family members.

A higher proportion of Medicaid waiver programs (36, 74%) than NFCSPs (59%) or state-funded programs (40%) report they allow payment to family members (other than spouses or parents/guardians of minors).

The practice of paying families to provide care may be perceived by some state administrators as a consumer-directed option for the individual beneficiary or consumer (i.e., the care receiver) without directly aiding the family caregiver. Nine of the Medicaid waivers and five of the state-funded programs reporting no consumer-directed option for family caregivers say they do permit beneficiaries to pay family members to provide care.

© 2004

On Dec 21 2002, I was laid off from Sprint. On Dec 24th my dad had a stroke, and became paralyzed on his right side in addition to other medical problems. I have been his caregiver for 5 years. I moved home to care for my parents. I drive them, pay bills and attend Dr appts. I had to buy a van to get him around in also. I have also had to use my savings and now live off my IRA. I have very little left now. I live off 8k to 10k a year and have had to pay taxes and early withdrawel pentalities. I have not had any medical treatments for my own health problems either.

Am I entitled to any help from anywhere? Social Security, local govt, federal govt? When I applied for food stamps, It wanted the household income which including their pension and social security which is less than 10k a year put me over the limit...if I did it right. I need help. I cant take care of my parents anymore. I am going broke. I have never asked for help before

where can i write to in order to have medicare pay for caregivers services so that i can continue to work. I know that they will pay a portion, i may have to pay a portion, but I am not sure where to write to, and where to submit the certified statement of the doctor.