On the woman who would like a mini-vacation try respite care at a nursing facility for her husband. She definitely needs a mental getaway. Find a facility you feel comfortable enough with (do your research) Let them know you need a few days whatever month and go from there. Good luck!
@needtoknow1 great answer. however I would add a background check on the person you select. Also lock up or take away all valuable items, jewelry, antiques, computers. Lock-up opiod pain meds, anxitey meds and other expensive medications. There is always a market for these type of drugs. Also do not leave cash or credit cards or checks in the house. If she has guns, take them off the property,
To GrammyM - Is it possible that there is a college with a nursing program nearby. Perhaps you could get signed up as a 'project' home, where the students would get 'real life' experience. The students are closely supervised and always have someone to call if they are unsure of something. If the school would not consider that, then perhaps a few names of their top students, who are nearest to graduation, would yield someone suitable for your needs. Those ready to graduate should have done some field work and have at least minimal experience. And, often times students have big loans to repay, and would welcome a short-term side job. You would probably only get this to work if you agree to sign something saying you would not sue for negligence if something went wrong. Good Luck to you ~
Regarding the Afforable Care Act [Obamacare], I for one am glad we have it.
Medicare has been improved for Seniors by measures that eliminate the donut hole, keep rates down, cut wasteful spending and fraud, and expand free preventive services such as the annual Wellness Exam. Seniors will no longer need to put off preventive care and check-ups due to costs.
In the past, if you had a pre-existing condition, insurance companies could deny you coverage. That can’t happen any more with the ACA. I remember when I was turned down because I had a wheat allergy... guess they thought I would OD on a loaf of bread... [rolling eyes]. Then before the ACA I was terrified I would lose my health insurance after I was diagnosed with cancer, I was scared silly that would happen. Whew, it didn't, but it could have happened.
Additionally, you can’t be charged more or be denied coverage for being a woman…. that’s right, women have been charged more and denied coverage in the past because we are [gasp] too complicated.
With the ACA health insurance companies can’t make unjustified rate hikes, and that these companies must spend the majority of premium dollars on care.
Also no more lifetime limits on health care. In the past an insurance company could say you or one of your children were too expensive because of the illness, thus wouldn’t renew your policy. That can’t happen any more.
Yes, there were people who lost their health insurance because it was “junk insurance” that didn‘t follow the ACA guidelines…. junk insurance meaning if you had surgery you were surprised that your health insurance only paid $1,000 for coverage and you owed the rest.
The list goes on. For me, I wouldn't want to turn back the clock and eliminate the above good points.
Oh MarciC, hope that caregiver got the scare of her life! I cant even imagine going to sleep on my shift day or night. When someone is hired to watch over someone they should be awake day or night that is why i tell people the rate is the same an hour is an hour. I am responsible for your loved one what happens on my watch is on my shoulders.
I hired a sevice, on shifts, to monitor mom at night. The caregiver slept on the sofa cuz mom got outside and rang the doorbell!! Dementia has made my mom crafty. I would not want someone sleeping on the job at the rate I was paying for an AWAKE caregiver. ❤️
This will not apply in the case of dementia/alz but if mobility problems are the main issue please consider assistive products that may make the difference. If a person can safely get in/out of bed (and have a bedside commode) there may be no reason for overnight hired help- saving 1/3 of the cost of 24/7 care.
People have no idea how bad Obama has messed up the health care. You wait. It will get worse. This law affects every single senior. The seniors will wish they would die by the time all of his rules take place. God help us. The idiots who supported the health care law need to be taken to the wood shed.
Although I am a professional caregiver, I hired a caregiver from an agency for my SO because I had to go away for two days. The caregiver left a dog poop bag on my DR shelf. He let the dog out of the yard, instead of into the backyard. My SO had to hobble down the street with his walker to retrieve our dog You need to find a a caregiver through a person you trust and has the same standards you do, unless there is a well regarded agency in your town. Be careful and good luck.
I recommend using a licensed bonded caregiver service. Yes, it's pricey, but the lawsuits from using a "Craigslist" person or similar could be much worse. Many nightmare stories are out there. Be careful!! ❤️
You can hire privately for about 12 an hour- depending on where you live. If you go thru an agency the cost will be more....maybe as much as 20 an hour- the aide still gets the same pay; the agency takes the rest. If you use an agency, make sure their staff is bonded and insured.
ismetell: Even though this caregiver lives in the state that you need care for your grandmother (Massachusetts, about a year ago she came down with breast cancer.
ismetell: The going rate in Westford, Massachusetts (3 miles from the New Hampshire line) was $12.00 per hour for a 12-hour stay. The woman, who was a friend of my Mother's (the elder needing the overnight caregiving) did some pro bono work for us, too. Other people's rates may vary.
I wonder if you should ask people who live near you (that you know well and trust) for references of someone they know who is trustworthy and looking for part time work. That's how I found my first caregiving position. A lady from my church asked everyone to put the word out that she was needing help with her elderly mother who had dementia. I got the word from the church members and I called the lady, (who I had never met). It turned out to be a great experience for all three of us, (me, the daughter and the elderly mother). I started out just taking her for daily rides for 2 to 3 hours. A few months later, the daughter asked me to move in and she moved out. We were a perfect personality match and I loved that elderly lady like my own grandmother. We had a lot of fun together and her daughter knew she was in good hands. I cared for her for over a year until she needed to go into a hospital. The thing is, before I met her, I had been praying for work and the daughter had been praying for help. There is no doubt we were brought together. I hope the best for you.
JArnold, i do not understand. If your family member has money in an estate trust why can their money not be used for care? Do greedy relatives want it? If so shame on them.
ADCaregivers: What that person did sounds criminal. At a minimum, your loss of property should be made whole by the agency which sent him. I don't know how you can recover the pain and suffering. Perhaps small claims court? However you look at it, the person who stayed in your home is a menace.
We are getting so tired of interviewing private caregivers that act interested and then never return our calls. All the agencies want $20 an hour and I only make about $3 an hour from the estate funds for 24/7 care of our family member. We could only afford about $10 an hour for a limited time, not a 4 hour minimum. We can't get any tax breaks either because she's related to us. We can't take a vacation unless she goes with us and then it's not a vacation for me, just more work. What in the world do you have to do to carve out some sort of free time for yourself? Respite care is also limited to 5 days per 90 day periods through her hospice and there is not space available for months.
Agencies do fill a great need, however you must realize when you pay an agency 25.00 an hour the caregiver only gets 9-10 dollars of that. This results in huge turnover numbers as Steven Tweed a home care specialist writes about all the time. This means you may have a different person everytime, no chance to build a relationship of trust. Also because of the low wages these people may need to work two or three jobs leading them to be tired and under more stress. Speaking from my own experience working as an independant, it was wonderful. I even traveled to florida with my client for a month. I was with him in the hospital everyday he was there, everyday he was in rehab, and spent his last days with him at home with hospice. It was and always will be a treasured relationship.
Some of us live in remote places and there is no option to use HomeInstead. You have to be in a big city to get something like this I live in Oregon and I tried to get help. It is SO difficult. I wanted my Partner at home until he passed. So I did it all. It is very hard on a person physically and emotionally, but I kept my promise to him to die at home.
Home care Caregivers could be there during any hours. Home care Caregivers can bring peace of mind to families and give respite to those concerned about the well being of their loved ones.
WOW Martha's Vineyard ... I love that Island. If I lived anywhere near there, I would volunteer. The cost probably will be based on what type of help. If it is a nurse it will be more of course. I would talk to any facility or entity that works with Seniors. Maybe a college student willing to take a semester off of school. Be creative.
Please do not take the advice of someone above who posted paying 140.00 for 24 hours. That is not only against the law as it works out to less then 6.00 per hour it is insulting and highly unethical. You should expect to pay a living wage, please don't insult caregivers as that person just did. We are hard working compassionate people that deserve respect.
Just inquired about this from a local CT agency in Fairfield County. I was paying $182 a day for 24/7 care and asked about the twelve hour shift which was from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM or 8:00 - 8:00. Cost quoted was $162 a day. Also asked about hourly rates minimum four hours day $18.75 hr.
mjam I too disagree as ramiller does. I have posted on care website and so have other cnas, nannies, and housecleaners I know. We are on that sight to be hired by those looking for caregivers and we have the best intentions. Yes some people are inexperienced and some are lazy and even uncaring, but that unfortunately is in any position. As with anyone looking to hire someone for a job, you need to interview and get references before hiring.
Genworth publishes a yearly report that's very good on Long Term Care Costs by state - home care, assisted living, nursing home, etc It will give you an idea what to expect. genworth/corporate/about-genworth/industry-expertise/cost-of-care.html
great answer. however I would add a background check on the person you select. Also lock up or take away all valuable items, jewelry, antiques, computers. Lock-up opiod pain meds, anxitey meds and other expensive medications. There is always a market for these type of drugs. Also do not leave cash or credit cards or checks in the house. If she has guns, take them off the property,
Medicare has been improved for Seniors by measures that eliminate the donut hole, keep rates down, cut wasteful spending and fraud, and expand free preventive services such as the annual Wellness Exam. Seniors will no longer need to put off preventive care and check-ups due to costs.
In the past, if you had a pre-existing condition, insurance companies could deny you coverage. That can’t happen any more with the ACA. I remember when I was turned down because I had a wheat allergy... guess they thought I would OD on a loaf of bread... [rolling eyes]. Then before the ACA I was terrified I would lose my health insurance after I was diagnosed with cancer, I was scared silly that would happen. Whew, it didn't, but it could have happened.
Additionally, you can’t be charged more or be denied coverage for being a woman…. that’s right, women have been charged more and denied coverage in the past because we are [gasp] too complicated.
With the ACA health insurance companies can’t make unjustified rate hikes, and that these companies must spend the majority of premium dollars on care.
Also no more lifetime limits on health care. In the past an insurance company could say you or one of your children were too expensive because of the illness, thus wouldn’t renew your policy. That can’t happen any more.
Yes, there were people who lost their health insurance because it was “junk insurance” that didn‘t follow the ACA guidelines…. junk insurance meaning if you had surgery you were surprised that your health insurance only paid $1,000 for coverage and you owed the rest.
The list goes on. For me, I wouldn't want to turn back the clock and eliminate the above good points.
You need to find a a caregiver through a person you trust and has the same standards you do, unless there is a well regarded agency in your town. Be careful and good luck.
I would call local Elder Affairs.. I would assume that in MV that your home care list is limited..