If caring for my Mom is affecting my health can my doctor request help from Medicare?

Thank you, Pam.. I expect we will not qualify from the quick glance I've been able to make..

Lois go up to the Money and Legal tab and click on Veterans Assistance. Wartime Vets are entitled to Aid and Attendance if assets are low.

What if the patient is a veteran? Is he entitled to a pension?

Are either of you a widow of a veteran? If so, it could be worth up to about $1100 per month for the widow's pension. This is intended to help pay for in=home care.

Oh, and Meals on Wheels would be available to mom if we chose to use it. The suggested donation is $5/day. When she was living in her own home, she also had a woman who came in to clean twice a month for two hours. The suggested donation for THAT was $28 for the month. A Godsend!

Your doctor can order in-home nursing assistance for you or your mom if either one of you has a SKILLED NEED which could mean, for instance, an unstable rather serious condition. Sans that, unfortunate as it is, Medicare doesn't pay for in-home care.

There are, however, many other avenues available to you thru your local Council on Aging (or one of their 'arms'). Call them to see what you and/or your mom might qualify for. Some are income and asset based; others are not.

Example of my mom:

She doesn't qualify for anything based on her income/assets. She has a nest egg that disqualifies her. However, Medicare pays for: a hospital bed; an oxygen generator; wheelchair. She gets a $1,000 stipend from a county agency that can be used toward their list of providers for in-home respite care. That buys close to 50 hours a year of care. Perhaps you would both qualify -- for $2,000. Because mom is virtually housebound, she has a doctor who comes to the house once a month and, believe it or not, is available on his cell phone in between (for medication adjustments). She also has a podiatrist who comes to the house to trim her toenails every six weeks. Both paid for by Medicare and her supplement.

Call your local Council on Aging or county/township Senior Services for resources. They're out there. But you have to ask.