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I wish I could help you Nadine but I have not had any luck either. I just pray, cry and go on day by day. Actually I moving out of state where I can get better support and hope I can find better programs to assist me, good luck,
1. Medicare: Medicare does not pay caregivers and only pays for intermittent "skilled care" at home. The care must be ordered by a physician and rendered by skilled personnel such at a physical, respiratory, occupational therapist or some other skilled person to perform a task. While skilled care is being received, some home health aide services are provided. If you are working with a "creative" Medicare home health care agency they can often work with the doctor to keep care going for quite a long time.
2. Medicaid: Many states have a long-term care program called "Cash and Counseling". It does provide a small amount for caregiver services. It is not available in all states or all of the time in states that do fund it.
3. Other Medicaid Programs: Many states have other Medicaid long-term care waiver programs which allow them to fund some home and community based services. Though they will not pay a caregiver, the amount saved on Rx, Medicare Premiums, etc. does free up cash. Also, adult day care and a few hours a day of custodial care are usually provided giving the caregiver much needed respite or time to work.
4. Veterans benefits: Taking advantage of all VA benefits can free up cash. The Aid and Attendance Improved pension is a non-service connected pension benefit which pays the vet for unreimbursed medical expenses INCLUDING THE COST OF CARE PROVIDED BY A FAMILY MEMBER. This benefit is available to vets (up to $1,650 p/m), their survivng spouses (up to 1,057 p/m), or as a couple (up to $1,950 p/m).
Long term care insurance is nice but it is extremely expensive. The average retiree cannot afford to buy it unless they purchase it when they are younger and still working. And the thing is that most policies also have a cap on the number of years that they pay. From what I have heard most pay for 5 years, which is your look back period...
I have alot of health problems but I worked at a Bank for 25 years and I did alot of work for people in the situation. Make sure that your parent has money set aside for burial. The amount was $5,000 but I am sure that has changed. A nursing home and medicaid will not touch those monies and it is one less thing to worry about.
I hope this helps...
You may get some deduction on taxes but that isn't any income
coming in.
If she has any assets and wants to sell them to pay you that is her decision.
I've never heard of getting paid for caregiving. If the parent is a veteran or blind they may qualify for some aid. (extra money) That goes to the person not the caregiver.
Sometimes you can get cheaper loans for grants to fix up your house to better assist an elderly or disabled person to live in it.