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I need a break I'm about to have a breakdown. I live in Clermont County my husband has Alzheimer's . I don't have insurance but he gets Social Security and supplement insurance. I don't have anyone to help with him so I never get a break. This is been going on for 10 years.
I'm feeling desperate and hopeless.

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How old are you folks? How is your health? You can get in home respite care so you can get a break but it is usually private pay. Can you apply for medicaid? Call you local commission on aging or similar agency for some advice and referrals. Ten years is a long time to be dealing with this. You can't help him if you go down with the ship. Medicaid would cover the cost of a care facility if you qualify.
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If he was in the service the VA will pay for a week of respite care in a nursing home near you. Something else I have read on here is take him to your ER not for Alzheimer's the only way you will get him a weeks stay is by telling them he's having pains somewhere. That could give you a weeks break. I am in the same boat as you, nine years, I need a break also, but I have pretty good control at this point and don't think the VA respite week would be worth the disruption it would cause, while he's there and after he comes back home. And really no relative who could step in & help, or would want to, so we are on our own except for a couple of angel sent forever friends.
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I would recommend that you call your county area on aging. They will send out a social worker who will tell you what government programs are available. I would also call a Certified Elder Lawyer. They will help you get your legal affairs in order and create a plan for you to become financially eligible for government programs.
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If he had one day in tge service during war time and qualifies financially you can receive Veterans Administration Aid and Attendance which is usually about $1,500 a month. This will pay for a private caregiver to come in to care for him while you get some time away. The Area Agency on Aging is an excellent resource to find all sorts of financial and medical information. http://www.help4seniors.org

Another option is that if he is on hospice, Medicare will pay for some respite each year with a doctor's order. Maybe it is time for a memory care facility or nursing home? If funds are insufficient check to see what it would take to get him on Medicaid.
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Dear barbecued, good suggestions so far in the responses. Is Clermont Co in Ohio?
If so here is the link to the Agency on Aging

http://info4seniors.org/
http://info4seniors.org/about/programs/

Additionally, depending on your husbands level of care needs, there usually are senior day programs that would get him personal attention and you at least some hours off. Check the Alzheimer association website for that as well as support groups.
Churches sometimes have volunteers that can help for some hours.
If private pay is not an option or too expensive for 24 hour care, some memory care communities or a secure assisted living community may offer respite for a week or longer. Their daily rate is not free, but could be less than 24 hour private company coming to your home. It may give you the time to recharge and give you time to explore your options. Where I live it is about $200 per day for a respite room. Only some facilities have a room because they need to have a furnished room to do it. This would get you time to rest but also investigate his and your options.
Search Senior placement agencies and one of those folks will know which ones in your area have respite rooms and which don't.

http://www.clermontseniors.com/ Is a site for your county.

Good luck and it is a tough road and ok to ask for help like you are.
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Some great info and support already with this question! The only other thing I can think of is to at least arrange for mini-respites. Find a qualified nursing assistant in your
area to cover for 3 or4 hrs and get out of the house either by yourself or with friends. You can find these care givers through registries such as Care website or Visiting Angels.
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An elderly care lawyer in my State is $2500.00 before you enter the door. Good luck, will not tell you when statute of limitations expire, part of the setup of bad lawyers. Careful, careful, careful. You may get more out of this website than from a Elder care lawyer.
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If at all possible go to an alz support group. I gleen ideas there plus feeling of not only one in my situation.
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Jeanlylels, I'm confused by your statement that "An elderly care lawyer in my State is $2500.00 before you enter the door. Good luck, will not tell you when statute of limitations expire, part of the setup of bad lawyers."

First, attorney fees vary. Some charge by the hour, which might be the case for consulting on Medicaid qualification. Others charge by the hour for preparation of an estate plan, while others charge a flat rate fee for similar work.

Second, I am totally confused by how any statutes of limitation relate to elder care law practice. Could you explain?

Also, how does an alleged "setup of bad lawyers" relate to any of this? And what is a "setup of bad lawyers"?
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Contact your area of ageing. They will evaluate your husband situation and calculate what if any services are available to you and your husband. If you have any questions contact me on this site.
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When I needed it Catholic Charities arranged for someone to "visit" my mom so I could get out to grocery shop or just rest. We're not Catholic, they are kind enough to provide respite for anyone. I also got a grant from Senior Services to pay for respite care. I could use it for a continuous block (like a day away) or break it up into shorter breaks (a few hours at a time.) I'm concerned about you at this point. You NEED a break. My pastor once said you can't provide others with a drink if you let your well run dry. Please take advantage of the advice offered on this sight and get your respite.
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This is my and my families experience and we had no idea that the whole experience was exactly what I said. The witnesses are all deceased and we are left with the memories I spoke about. Your answers apply to honest lawyers. Obviously you have never been through our experiences. And that is good thing for you.
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