Go on your state Web site and look for aging services. Under that you should get a contact for local services. If your grandmother is on Medicaid, there may be a way for you to get some pay, so these people may be able to help you. Many of these programs are locally administered. Carol
As you can imagine, this is a very common scenario and unfortunately there is not much help for those in your circumstances. When caregivers say or feel they need to be compensated for care they are providing it is usually because they are feeling undue financial hardship, not because they feel they "deserve" to be paid.
At the 10,000 foot level there are really only two programs that may help you. Many states now have a Medicaid Waiver program called "Cash and Counseling" or some variant thereof. When participating in this program the recipient is given more direct control in obtaining services and may, in fact, include payment to a family member as part of their care plan. As Carol suggested, your state's equivalent of Department of Elder Affairs will have information.
The other program that may be of help will only apply if grandmother or her spouse was a veteran. The VA Aid and Attendance Improved Pension will provide cash payment directly to grandmother. With this payment she is free to hire anyone, including a family member for her care.
Lastly, and again as Carol mentioned, local resources can be extremely important. Keep this in mind: it may be possible to replace services you are now spending grandmother's money on with other services that are lower cost or free. Saving cash means more money available for other things like possibly compensating you at least to some degree.
For example, will she qualify for meals on wheels? Does she receive help for her Part B premium (that would save $96.50 per month) is she receiving extra help for prescription drugs (this could potentially save hundreds per month), should she apply for home based Medicaid services which would provide some home care to provide respite for you or give you time to find employment for a few hours per week.
Caring for a loved one in difficult financial circumstances requires creativity and ingenuity. I would also suggest joining a caregiver support group either locally or on line. You will be surprised what you will learn and how common your experience is.
If you Grandfather was a Wartime Veteran, you can apply for Aid and Attendance from the VA. This is a pension that will reimburse your Grandmother for medical expenses. You charge her as a home care aide and she then gets reimbursed from the VA. The math has to work out, but it usually works. There are many great resources to learn about it, but if anyone tries to charge you a fee for assistance, hang up on them, it is illegal to charge for this type of assistance.
Best of luck, Emily Schwarz Veterans Financial, Inc.
Carol
At the 10,000 foot level there are really only two programs that may help you. Many states now have a Medicaid Waiver program called "Cash and Counseling" or some variant thereof. When participating in this program the recipient is given more direct control in obtaining services and may, in fact, include payment to a family member as part of their care plan. As Carol suggested, your state's equivalent of Department of Elder Affairs will have information.
The other program that may be of help will only apply if grandmother or her spouse was a veteran. The VA Aid and Attendance Improved Pension will provide cash payment directly to grandmother. With this payment she is free to hire anyone, including a family member for her care.
Lastly, and again as Carol mentioned, local resources can be extremely important. Keep this in mind: it may be possible to replace services you are now spending grandmother's money on with other services that are lower cost or free. Saving cash means more money available for other things like possibly compensating you at least to some degree.
For example, will she qualify for meals on wheels? Does she receive help for her Part B premium (that would save $96.50 per month) is she receiving extra help for prescription drugs (this could potentially save hundreds per month), should she apply for home based Medicaid services which would provide some home care to provide respite for you or give you time to find employment for a few hours per week.
Caring for a loved one in difficult financial circumstances requires creativity and ingenuity. I would also suggest joining a caregiver support group either locally or on line. You will be surprised what you will learn and how common your experience is.
Best of luck,
Emily Schwarz
Veterans Financial, Inc.