I quit my job to care for my 86 yr old mother who has dementia. How or can I be paid for taking care of her?

Ruthep, the vast majority of grown children do not get paid for taking care of a parent.... unless the parent can pay you from their own savings account. If that is something your Mother can do, you would need to prepare an employment contract. What are you doing about your own health insurance, or are you old enough for Medicare?

Now, there is another option. If your Mother can apply and qualify for Medicaid [which is different from Medicare], then check with your State Medicaid office to see what programs are available. These programs vary from State to State. Example, some States will not pay a family member who lives under the same roof as the parent.

Since Medicaid is taxpayer funded, there are annual budgets that may or may not reduced or cancelled. Or more money is funded for certain programs.

Anyway, it is worth a call.