How do I go about getting compensated for taking care of my mom at my home?

The only two programs I know of that provide in-home care are long-term-care insurance and Medicaid.

I assume Mom doesn't have long-term-care insurance, or you would have already checked that.

Would she qualify for Medicaid? While she is still in the community it would probably be a waiver program, but if she ever needs a nursing home, it would be in place for that, too.

One good way to start the process is by getting a needs assessment. For our mother we asked for that from Human Services. I understand the Area Agency on Aging can help with that, too. The assessment person can tell you what your mother seems to need, and also the resources that are available to help meet those needs.

I am one of the very lucky one's here that has a mother who has the funds to supplement my income so that I was able to retire early and care for her. The elder attorney said that she can gift my husband and I up to 28,000 per year without interfering with hers or our taxes. I am grateful we were able to do this, the Assisted Living facility cost more than she is giving us and more than she was receiving in retirement and Medicare. She still has money to spend on herself now and do some of the things she wants to do. However, I am not as good at getting her to different functions for socialization. I love taking care of her but was not as prepared with the demands of 24/7 care as I thought I was. Especially with the dementia, it keeps you on your toes. God Bless and take care....

Cwheel, I hope that your mom never needs to be in a care facility and requires Medicaid to pay for that care.

The attorney is correct about the gifting not effecting taxes, but Medicaid will not pay for mom's care if she has gifted monies during the previous 5 years.

Perhaps a different way to structure this is to set up a caregiving contract where mom pays you for her care. It's something to think about.

Ricky, the vast majority of grown children do not get paid for taking care of a parent.... unless that parents can pay them from their own retirement fund.

Otherwise, like jeanne had mentioned above, see if the parent can apply and qualify for Medicaid [which is different from Medicare]. If she can, and depending on what programs are available in your State [each State if different], you might be able to receive a few hours of payment, but note the pay would be minimal.

Sorry, Medicare does not offer payment to a grown child, nor do they pay for caregivers to come to the house. Medicaid will pay for physical therapy and speech therapy should your Mom need that.

If at all possible, do NOT quit your job. You will lose more than just a salary, you would also lose the net worth value of benefits offered by your company, if any. Such as health care insurance, matching 401(k), monies placed into your Social Security/Medicare, paid vacation days, paid sick days, etc.

a friend of mine was taking care of his mom in her home for two years until she passed away recently and he was being paid (very minimally, about ten bucks an hour, but he was going to do the job anyway) through an agency which in turn I thought was paid by medicare, perhaps Medicaid. Could that have been possible?

Karsten, that sounds very likely. Here when Medicaid approves a certain number of hours of work and a family member wants to provide it they are sent to an agency the county works with. The family members gets training. The agency handles the employment tax and withholding, etc. Family member submits time cards. The money is not great but at least you are still contributing to SS for your own future.

but not until parent qualifies for Medicaid, right? If they are on medicare and private insurance only, no such payments?

Yes, Karsten, that is for persons on Medicaid.