How can I get paid for taking care of my Mom (82)?

Is your mother eligible for Medi-Cal? If so, she's probably already eligible for IHSS (In Home Social Services), which can pay you to care for her in her own home. You can apply by contacting your case manager at Medi-Cal. Since you state the only income is her SS income, unless that's a huge amount, she may be eligible, if you aren't sure. Check it out. If approved for IHSS, a social worker will determine the number of hours your mother needs help each week, and you'll submit a timesheet to the state of California for processing. Pay is around $10 and hr (LA County, the deduct more, so it's around $9.75). Good luck!

Don't kid yourself Jason, San Jose is a big place and you CAN find a job. Even at 46.

You need to take care of yourself, first, or you are going to find yourself without health insurance and social security to fall back on, when you are 65. How are you doing this 24/7 job, by yourself? As you know, she will only become more dependent on you.

What is her plan if you can no longer take care of her or she outlives you? This is something that you need to talk about.

Use the search function on this page and put "getting paid." All of the posts on this subject will come up. Good luck, to you. My mother is very difficult and is 95. (I am not her caregiver.)

Thank you. She has an appointment next week with the doctor finally.

Contact the local Medi-Cal Field Office in San Jose. They will be able to point you in the right direction, if she is eligible for IHSS.

PS - Don't be scared off if they tell you she can't own her home. Under the old rules, that automatically disqualified most people. Now, there are so many exemptions that she could keep her home and still be eligible for Medi-Cal and IHSS, etc. She needs to make sure her income and other assets are within the allowable limits to qualify.

Jason, sorry you haven't been able to find work as this is the best the economy's been in 15 years. If your job skill is one that isn't going forward you may have to re-train for a new career. Anything in the health care industry has been growing.

I cannot afford school. Jason1234

Jason, when my Dad was much younger he couldn't afford college but he put himself through by working 3 part-time jobs.

Actually, the unemployment rate in San Jose, is I think, much higher than the rest of the state and the country as a whole, and many of the jobs that are available in the area are either high-end high-tech or low-end, dead-end jobs. There is a job gap that particularly affects males in their 40's and 50's and very few of those unemployed are included in the cheery, rosy statistics the government is cranking out. The recovery has left a lot us of behind. I know from personal experience how difficult it can be to find a job that is "easy enough" to have and also provide care to a parent at home before and after work. Without any help, alone, and not knowing where to reach out for help, it makes the whole world look overwhelming, and lonely. Jason, you have to start someplace, and I think you know that since there is no one else to do it, you have to get mom the care she needs, so you can get the time to do the things you want to do with your life. Good luck!