How to get paid to take care for my elderly mother.

For a caregiver grant,who do you contact? Is it through the state or the federal goverment?

i live in california and i am self employed, my father passed away 2 months ago, he was the primary care giver for my mother with demincia, i have moved her in with me, and there are many days i cannot leave her alone to work for even a couple of hours, we cannot afford to pay someone to keep an eye on her. and i am sure she does not qualify for state programs, is there something that will compensate my income to stay with her?

Hi Nadine, first let me say dont feel guilty about spending your parents money as long as its to care for them and help manage your expenses. Surprsingly I am going through the same thing, had to quit my job and mothers ss and pension is all the income we have. I dont know what state you are in so check with your dept on aging. Here in Maryland I have called everywhere and all they say is she gets too much money even though I no longer have a job, or there is a waiting list. There is also a program that will reimburse you up to 500 for any adult day care, or in home aid but I cant wait to get reimbursed if I put out that kiind of money.
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,

I need to find help on a program that pays to stay home and take care of my elderly parents . My mother in blind and has diabetes and my father has heart problems and they are both in there 80's I will need some kind of assistance to pay my bills also and the income can only take care of there needs, I dont want to spend there money its not enough.

In FL the income limit for the caregiver financial program is $2022 a month for an individual and no more than $3000 in assets. One homestead and vehicle are not counted toward assets.The stipend to the caregiver is maximum $106 a month. I also recommend contacting your local Area Agency on Aging. You can do so by using eldercare.gov . If you don't qualify for financial assistance most states have other forms of assistance such as respite care, adult day care, case management, personal care, etc. They'll provide information about funded federal/state programs, intake and screen for available programs, and provide community/volunteer resources.

Dial 211 or do a search for your county Area Agency on Aging or Aging and Disability Resource Center. Every county in the US has one. Call and tell them you need help. They will assign you a social worker for intake and see what services/support may be available to you.

I live in KY and take care of my mother in law who has a mental illness as well as my 84 year old grandmother in law. my own mother who has lupus also lives with us. I can not keep a job due to the fact that I do all the running. Doctors appointments, hair dresser, medication pick up etc... I don't know where to turn.

It is rare for a caregivier to be paid for care but there are some benefit sets that will help some people.

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).

I know all about the "your mom gets too much money for state help" speech! My mom has dementia and has been with me a month,she gets $2,100 a month. The day care I want to place her in is $1,600 a month for 5 days a week. I have to work thats why I want her in for 5 days,anything les I would have to pay an aide to come in and thats as expensive as adult day care. I cant place her in center now because I have not been able to work because there is no one to watch her while I do so my check is short and now I have to use some of her money to pay the rent,gas and electric and buy food! We both cant live off $2,100 a month!! So sometimes no matter what solution you come up with, something else comes up. But Im not giving up, there has to be a loop hole somewhere in the system that no matter what our eldery gets a month, something is out there to help the caregiver stay on their feet,because we also are losing out. Does someone out there know anything that can help?

If your father or mother was in the military during wartime, there is a VA benefit to help with the care of the individual or spouse..My mother in law fractured her back and she was in 2 nursing homes before this one and the previous ones told us she did not qualify. The nice thing is that they can keep their home. She has Alzheimers. We have been making up the difference in her bills and thought she couldn't get anything because she still has the house. We are hoping that I will get well enough to care for her at home and maybe I know I am asking for a miracle but I hope she knows us until the end. She gets mean with me and all the things that our parents with this aweful disease do....but I am hoping that in the end....I can bring her home. She should be at home...even though now when we bring her home...she doesn't know where she is. But she is comforted when she knows she is home with her family. She spent 10 years with us after my father in law died.
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...

Yes, they now do a five year "look-back" to see if the elder has tried to dispose of resources in that period. We're wishing we'd been able to persuade our mom to do that 5+ years ago as she is now in a nursing home with a serious injury (fractured neck) and we're watching her life savings evaporate to the point where Medicaid will take over. Such a shame.

In the New York State Power of Attorney document there is a place where your mother can grant you compensation for caring. I don't know what state you are in but you might want to check this out.

They should make a Federal law like the laws in some states that you have to have car insurance to drive. Well they should make a Federal law to make people buy LONG TERM INSURANCE, that would help in a gazillion cases.

An elder lawyer is the way to go they know the current and ever changing rules do not call medicaide you may get a wrong answer it seems to be my experience if they do not know the answer they make something up, In my state a husband or wife can stay in the house during their lifetime but when they die or become unable to remain in the house then it goes to the nursing home unless you put it is trust 5 years before applying to medicaide and the 5 yr. look back period may be increased at any time. We as adults need to be proactive long before our health starts to fail,

The bottom line friends, there is hardly anything out here nomatter what state you live in that will help with our eldery parent! My mom gets $2,108.00 a month and she qualifies for nothing!!! How can you work all your life and just because you are receiving your pension and ss you can help the seniors? Its true,nursing home will take everthing because they are so expensive! My mom gets too much for state help,but not enough to stay in a nice home,thats why she is with me. Oh did I mention, Maryland does have a caregiver grant, check on that in your state,you have to ask for it they dont volunteer the info. Now here is the real funny part about the grant( in Maryland), they give you @500.00 ANNUALY to help care for in home aide,etc!!! Someone let me know if your state pays more

Whether you are buying the house or whatever you do, keep excellent records. We take care of my mother in law and we have an elder care attorney to protect her interests. My understanding is that the nursing home or VA or whatever can "look back" 5 years. If we wanted to buy the home, we could but we had to pay the appraised value. I know that you won't be put out of the home but I thought that was only for husband and wife It may vary from state to state, I don't know.

I do not think you can get paid for taking care of a parent.
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.

Ihave been taking care of my 83 year old mother she has several health issues . The thing is i am 55 years old and need to have some income to help me i dont want to put the burden on my kids. She fell the other day and i hurt my back picking her upI dont mind taking care of her shes my mother but i was told i can get paid for taking care of her does anyone know how i go about it where do i start my dad is in a home for alzheimers thank you .

Maybe you should talk to her doctor for a change in her meds. It sounds like she wants to calm down and maybe sleep a little better. Her medicare supplement should pay for that anyway. Good luck, would she enjoy some large-print books from the library?

I HAVE CALLED IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND THEY SAY THAT MY MOTHER GET TO MUCH EACH MONTH TO GET HELP. THEY SAID THAT SHE WOULD HAVE A CO-PAY, BUT HER BILLS EVERY MONTH TAKE UP ALMOST ALL OF THAT, AND SHE SMOKE EVEN THOUGH SHE KNOWS THAT SHE IS NOT SUPPOSE TO. I GIVE HER FIVE CIG. A DAY AND IF I DON'T SHE CALLS ME BAD NAMES, SHE EVEN WANTS A DRINK OF BRANDY OR RUM EVERY DAY AND IF I DON'T THERE GOES THE NAME CALLING AGAIN. SO WHAT AN I SUPPOSE TO DO, CAN ANYONE GIVE ME ANY IDEAS PLEASE HELP

I hope you're right. Thank you, I didn't want to believe they could take everything. Maybe she should sell it to me for a dollar, or put my name on her life estate or quit claim it to me. I really need an elder care lawyer who is familiar with Wisconsin's very tough benefits for the caregiver, and who will still protect my mother's home for as long as she lives.

I have been told that if you are a family member and live-in caregiver, you cannot be turned out after that person dies. There is a law to protect you from that. Check with an elder lawyer in your state. They should be able to answer your questions. Also, your local senior center should have someone who can help you with some of your questions or they can direct you to someone who can.

Im in the same position and wondering as well in Florida.

I live in Wisconsin and it is very difficult to be compensated for caring for my elderly mother. She is going to pay me a stipend and can then claim it as a medical expense on her taxes. I am retiring early to move in with her and am very concerned I'll lose my own house with only 50% of my income benefit. I think I should have her sell me her house for a 1.00, get my name on her deed, so that if she must go to a long term care facility, they will not be able to confiscate it. I was told that they can reverse the sale if its within 5 years of her being in a long term care facility.