My mom is 76 and has recently been falling a lot. Can I get paid for taking care of my mom?

Medicaid generally will pay $12.00 an hour for a few hours a week on the waiver program. Most states have a waiting list for waivers. Some states restrict home care waivers to disabled children so that may stay at home with family caregivers. Use your parents money for your pay if they have the funds.

If she can’t afford to pay you herself then depending on your state, there may be government assistance programs available. I believe 12-13 states now have an in-home-support services program which pays for a caregiver. The caregiver can be a relative. Pay is usually minimum wage. No benefits. Your mom has to be on Medicaid as well to qualify. She’ll be evaluated to see if she’s eligible. It’s highly unlikely she’d be approved for more than 20 hours a week.

Not by any government agency unless she’s a veteran and then, maybe. I’ve heard Medicare “might” kick in a few dollars but it’s an insulting amount for what we caregivers have to do. If your mother has money, search “Caregiver’s Agreement “ on this site and fill it out. Mom needs to sign it and so do you. You can then agree on an amount for her to pay you out of her own money. This way, if she needs to file for Medicaid it won’t be looked at as a gift and you won’t have to pay it back for her to qualify. And keep in mind that unless you pay for it yourself, there is no health insurance provided and no retirement funds unless you are able to save money.

As for the numbness and constant falling, if she hasn’t been to a doctor in a while, she needs to go. Those two together could indicate a problem that needs attention. If she won’t go, contact a company called “Visiting Physicians” for doctors and nurse practitioners who make house calls.