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Reading my bio you see my story. I’m now a former care giver. I do not have the VA support my now deceased spouse had. Caregiving took a lot from me. I have struggled to catch up on my own health that I ignored while caring for now deceased spouse.
I moved from Illinois to Arizona to my 40 year old son’s home a year after DS passed.
It’s a 3 story home with my suite on the 1st level. Perfect. I never wanna leave. Low noise from my family above. No stairs unless I have to wash or oven cook which is seldom now. Straight out my rooms to my car in the garage which I use to take myself to most doctor appointments.
I can hardly tolerate the pain when in-store shopping. I Instacart now almost everything now. Most meds. I have delivered now too.
My back issues accelerated from caregiving. I am constantly at a high level on their so called pain scales based on what their scans show and my complaints. They can’t find anything that relives my pain below that point. So, I am unable to do anything other than constantly trying all day all night to find something while I wait on my Lord who is forever the Executive Decider of all Decisions and Ultimate Physician.
I need someone to do laundry, light in store shopping and light cleaning etc. a few times once a week a couple times per month maybe.
I know I don’t need much right now but things are changing and accelerating. I don’t know what will happen in the near future. I wanna start setting things in order in that direction so I have services I what and I am comfortable with.
Has anyone done this for themselves? Did you use private or something your county or state agency had available? I am now 72 and living in Phoenix Az. 85022
Thanks and blessings to all. ❤️

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I like the Dr. John Sarno books on back pain and I'm also currently reading The Way Out Healing Chronic pain by Alan Gordon.
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Reply to brandee
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Thank you everyone for all the great suggestions and information!

I now have lots of things to research and do.
I know I severally procrastinate now since being the caregiving. I was organized moving from one task to another. Punctual with everything for him.
I now have no push left for myself.
I thought I would pick back up gradually after spouse passed and I moved somewhere I knew no one except my son and his family.
This was gonna be my last big adventure! New place new people! Explore!

I now wonder if that was such a great idea. Everything is so different here and because I’m homebound and feeling much different than I was three years ago. I have no social life nor friends my age. Pain rules now.

Off to do my research on the info you all provided.
I have never qualified for anything income based.
No where wealthy but I know I get over the limits.

Thanks everyone! Many blessings to you all.
I will come back and keep you updated.
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Reply to Lishie
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I would speak to a VA rep. Your County should have an office. Aide and Attendance your DH had to serve during wartime.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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I agree with checking Care.com. You can communicate directly with the caregivers about what you need and their availability.
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Reply to MG8522
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Do you or would you qualify for Aid and Attendance.
Depending on your husbands "Service Connected Disability %" there may not be an income requirement otherwise it is "means based" Please check with the local VA or the local Veterans Assistance Commission.
Otherwise it would be looking for caregivers you can pay.
You can check with your local Senior Service Center and see if there are any programs you may qualify for.
there may also be a Volunteer Senior group in your area that you can sign up with and they may provide volunteers for some things.
You are wise to look and plan ahead.
You may even want to have a talk with your son and let him know your wishes and if you have not done paperwork to make him POA for Health and Finances you might want to set that up.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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I would start with Care.com and hire the help you need now with of course being able to hire more in time as needed.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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