Arizona does not have IHSS but through Medicaid they do have a program for Medicaid recipients that allows them to self direct their care. Under that program they could hire you as a caregiver but you do have to be CPR & first aid certified.
MediCARE & Medicaid maze is daunting. You really need to get yourself clearly familiarized with what MediCARE is (primary coverage for health care by MDs, PT, PAs, hospice & in facilities like hospitals, clinics) and what Medicaid is (secondary coverage for the above AND for community based programs and long term care room&board if applicant is “at need” for the program applied for). Plus understanding what each do not do..... this in many ways can be more important. This site has articles on this & CMS (centers for Medicare & Medicaid aka the Feds) also have info & your state will have info for Medicaid as Medicaid is unique for each state but within federal guidelines as it’s state & federal $.
Medicare is not going to pay you. Quitting your job is viewed as a choice you made. Its a harsh reality. Most caregiving is done by family and done out of a sense of familial duty and for free. BUT: - If your folks have income & assets, you all can do a caregiver agreement in which they pay you to be their caregiver. Needs to be all above board, with FICA done, taxes paid. If not, should they end up applying for Medicaid the $ paid to you looks like $ gifted & an issue for Medicaid - if they can get VA Aide & Attendance, $ is paid to the elder and they can spend it as they want to. $ can get paid to you or agency or for rent at AL. Aide & Attendance is self directed. - if they are “at need” medically & “at need” financially for income for a community based service or program that your states Medicaid does, they can apply for it. Some states do IHHS - in home health services as a community based program. State pays a caregiver to provide for care for the elder who continues to live in their home. CA & AZ have long standing IHHS programs. This is what Jessica posted abt. Based on what others have posted, IHHS tend 20/24 hrs week at slightly more than min wage. State will do a training seminar & maybe RedCross certification; state pays you w/FICA done. Hours paid by state can’t go over a certain limit as that means they need full time 24/7 oversight. Often the lives in the home 1 family member gets IHHS so then folks able to use their monthly income (like SS$) or asset (savings, investments) spend down to themselves private paid for additional caregivers. Or other family help for free to overlap care or pay for extra help.
caregiving for 1 post hospitalization parent is in & of itself beyond a full time job. You have both parents. I get it.... your overwhelmed & your own health & finances are being affected. I flat do not see 1 caregiver for 2 at need parents ever working. Your 1 fall from chaos (& that really should be the name of a caregiver guide).....
My suggestion is that you have a needs assessment done for each of them & review their complete financial situation to see if they will need to do a spend down under Community Souse / NH spouse requirements for your states LTC Medicaid. Whichever is the most “at need” for skilled nursing care goes into a NH. So you are able to remain with the other. And for 2-2.5 years. As you need to have at least 2 years of being an in-home caregiver before that parent applies for in facility LTC in order to eventually file for a caregiver exemption.
If it’s CS/NH situation, really imho best off having elder law attorney review their financials BEFORE any Medicaid application done. Medicaid is very exacting on eligibility. If folks need a spend down done, imo you need to get on this ASAP. good luck and remember to take time for yourself each day.
Check with your local county. Here in Sacramento CA there is a program called In Home Support Services (IHSS), It is income based (your parents). If they qualify, they hire you, you fill out a County timesheet, submit it and the County pays you.
You should take the full name off your information. To much private information on an open public forum. Not safe in my opinion.
No Medicare program, maybe Medicaid would pay you. However, it seems to be minimal pay and minimal hours weekly.
If your parents can afford it, they should be paying you for their care. This should involve a caregivers contract and you should be paid as an employee. This will help them in the future if the need Medicaid.
I wish that people would check before they make life changing decisions and not listen to others that think, a few phone calls can usually get things cleared up. Nothing personal against you, we see this question repeatedly and it is always after the fact.
You really need to get yourself clearly familiarized with what MediCARE is (primary coverage for health care by MDs, PT, PAs, hospice & in facilities like hospitals, clinics) and what Medicaid is (secondary coverage for the above AND for community based programs and long term care room&board if applicant is “at need” for the program applied for). Plus understanding what each do not do..... this in many ways can be more important. This site has articles on this & CMS (centers for Medicare & Medicaid aka the Feds) also have info & your state will have info for Medicaid as Medicaid is unique for each state but within federal guidelines as it’s state & federal $.
Medicare is not going to pay you.
Quitting your job is viewed as a choice you made. Its a harsh reality.
Most caregiving is done by family and done out of a sense of familial duty and for free.
BUT:
- If your folks have income & assets, you all can do a caregiver agreement in which they pay you to be their caregiver. Needs to be all above board, with FICA done, taxes paid. If not, should they end up applying for Medicaid the $ paid to you looks like $ gifted & an issue for Medicaid
- if they can get VA Aide & Attendance, $ is paid to the elder and they can spend it as they want to. $ can get paid to you or agency or for rent at AL. Aide & Attendance is self directed.
- if they are “at need” medically & “at need” financially for income for a community based service or program that your states Medicaid does, they can apply for it. Some states do IHHS - in home health services as a community based program. State pays a caregiver to provide for care for the elder who continues to live in their home. CA & AZ have long standing IHHS programs. This is what Jessica posted abt. Based on what others have posted, IHHS tend 20/24 hrs week at slightly more than min wage. State will do a training seminar & maybe RedCross certification; state pays you w/FICA done. Hours paid by state can’t go over a certain limit as that means they need full time 24/7 oversight. Often the lives in the home 1 family member gets IHHS so then folks able to use their monthly income (like SS$) or asset (savings, investments) spend down to themselves private paid for additional caregivers. Or other family help for free to overlap care or pay for extra help.
caregiving for 1 post hospitalization parent is in & of itself beyond a full time job. You have both parents. I get it.... your overwhelmed & your own health & finances are being affected. I flat do not see 1 caregiver for 2 at need parents ever working. Your 1 fall from chaos (& that really should be the name of a caregiver guide).....
My suggestion is that you have a needs assessment done for each of them & review their complete financial situation to see if they will need to do a spend down under Community Souse / NH spouse requirements for your states LTC Medicaid. Whichever is the most “at need” for skilled nursing care goes into a NH. So you are able to remain with the other. And for 2-2.5 years. As you need to have at least 2 years of being an in-home caregiver before that parent applies for in facility LTC in order to eventually file for a caregiver exemption.
If it’s CS/NH situation, really imho best off having elder law attorney review their financials BEFORE any Medicaid application done. Medicaid is very exacting on eligibility. If folks need a spend down done, imo you need to get on this ASAP.
good luck and remember to take time for yourself each day.
No Medicare program, maybe Medicaid would pay you. However, it seems to be minimal pay and minimal hours weekly.
If your parents can afford it, they should be paying you for their care. This should involve a caregivers contract and you should be paid as an employee. This will help them in the future if the need Medicaid.
I wish that people would check before they make life changing decisions and not listen to others that think, a few phone calls can usually get things cleared up. Nothing personal against you, we see this question repeatedly and it is always after the fact.