I stopped working to care for my aging Mother. Can I be reimbursed for the care?

Well, if you lived in Mass., they have this Caring Homes Program:

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By Alice Dembner, Globe Staff | July 8, 2005

Massachusetts has begun paying family members to house and care for their frail older relatives in an effort to keep them out of nursing homes and save the state money.

The program pays $1,500 a month to caregivers to make it more feasible for family members to provide round-the-clock care to a senior who needs extensive help with everyday tasks, such as eating, bathing, dressing, and using the toilet. It has enrolled 21 seniors since beginning on a trial basis in March, and will expand this fall to as many as 80 low-income seniors or disabled people, funded by $2 million in the state budget signed into law last week.

The state's goal is to provide the housing and home care that seniors want while reducing admissions to expensive nursing homes. The state expects to spend $1.6 billion for nursing home care this year.

''It's offering people a more compassionate level of care provided by people they know they're comfortable with . . . at a cost about half that of a nursing home," said Representative Barbara L'Italien, an Andover Democrat who pressed for inclusion of the money in the budget. She and other officials expect the program will be expanded to serve many more in future years. Advocates say as many as 8,000 people could be eligible, depending on the criteria ultimately set by the state.

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Sure wish we had this in Florida.

People who have given up their livelihoods to care for an aging relative are saving the government(s) big bucks. Anyone know how $1500 per month compares to the cost to Medicaid for a nursing home?

anything like this in New York State?

how about California?

HOW ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA

How about South Carolina?

how about indiana ????

How about NJ?

You guys are funny.

When you are googling this stuff you get 1000 false leads for every hit, but I remembered something about Vermont, so I just check it out.

They have a "Choices for Care" program that pays family member (or other) caregivers $10 per hour. That might work out to even more than the $1500 per month in Mass.

Some quotes:

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It costs the state of Vermont about $122 a day for Medicaid-covered senior citizens who live in nursing homes, compared with about $80 a day for those being cared for in their homes.
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Penny Walsh, 41, a former tenant of Parsons’, gets paid $10 an hour for 35 to 40 hours a week. She said she took the job because she was already doing some of Parsons’ cleaning and other chores for nothing.
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Meanwhile, Patrick Flood, commissioner of Vermont's Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, called nursing homes "an outdated model," adding, "It is a crazy situation. The service that people don't want and is more expensive" is guaranteed by the government, while "the service people prefer and is cheaper, isn't" (Lagnado, Wall Street Journal, 10/23).
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It seems like the momentum is picking up for an awareness than in-home care should be subsidized both for quality and for overall savings. Too bad we can't just wave a wand and make it national. As long as it truly saves the government money, why not?

Yes, How about South Carolina?

Idefiinitely agree!!! Anyone know about Arizona? I need help fast!

Every state should have an aging network. I feel that they would be aware of any program like this that would exist.

if any body find out that they have this in calif. i want to be paid. i will start some research on the matter.

Hi everyone....you can each check with your State or local county agency on aging. Every state is different.

s far as California goes, right now the budget items for medi-cal and other elder assistance programs including caregiver programs are probably going to be cancelled, including respite and caregiver respite awards. Other states might not be in as much trouble as California, but it is scarey to see programs cancelled - worse yet is watching different groups of people argue over who should be cut - kids, education, elders, caregivers, list goes on.....if anyone in california is interested check out budget item 4440 on the state website.

is there anything like this in Pennsylvania?

This depends on your state, when you apply and with whom, how good your records are and a lot of other things. The best thing to do is see and elder attorney or an estate attorney - and make sure the attorney knows all the current Medicaid rules. You'll want everything in writing and done properly, and it gets complicated if you need to spend down the money to get someone on Medicaid. They are very picky how you do it. Check your state (type the name in your browser) along with "Medicaid waiver" - that may give you some additional information, as well.
Carol

Kentucky? How do find out? What is the program called?

MindingOurElders,
I checked the site for NJ. I did speak to a social worker months ago about this option. What I did find out is that no one returns my calls, and I was very persistent. I am going to try again. Thanks for the information. We all need a little extra info and a push to keep on top of things.
Linda

It's very, very discouraging, I know. My heart is with you. But it's worth doing. Make sure it's the right agency, to begin with, but your state aging services should be able to point you there.

Best of luck with this. It shouldn't be so hard, but it is, especially when you want to go back. You may need an attorney.
Carol

Mass. is awesome!
Carol

Still waiting for any info about Arizona, I need some help.

Also, if anyone out there is from Illinois, I do know they have a program there as a friend of mine got paid $l,500.00 a month to care for her mother in her home in Chicago. However, I don't know the particulars and I have no way to contact my friend.

ItalianRlose, try http://www.pascenter.org/state_based_stats/medicaid_waivers_info.php?state=arizona

There are lots of categories on the left side. If none of this fits, you may find links to other agencies that can help you. There's a link to their main state Web site, too.
Carol

I live in AZ. In the county I live in you contact "Pima County on Aging". Try typing or calling the name of your county and then "County on Aging" and you should get some help. I know several people, relatives and friends who take a two day course to get certified and then get paid to take care of elderly person instead of someone from an agency.

It costs $5000 per month to live in a nursing home so the government will do anything to keep people at home.

The government is getting wiser about this. Train the family or get in-home help as long as possible. Much cheaper than a nursing home. It takes time to change the focus, and each state has different rules, but this sounds like a great plan. Thanks mip86.
Carol

I HAVE JUST STARTED READING SOME OF THESE POSTS ON REIMBURSED FOR CARE OF ELDERLY PARENTS. MY PARENTS DO NOT LIVE WITH ME. THEY LIVE IN A CONDO 2 MINUTES FROM ME. ALTHOUGH THEY DO NOT LIVE WITH ME, ME AND MY HUSBAND, ARE THE PRIMARY CAREGIVERS. WE TAKE THEM TO DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS, TAKE CARE OF THEIR FINANCES, TAKE THEM FOOD SHOPPING, ETC. IT GOT SO EXHAUSTING, WE DID GET OUTSIDE HELP "HOME INSTEAD" THAT BRINGS IN A PERSON 3 HOURS A DAY, TWO TIMES A WEEK. THIS WOMAN, CLEANS THE HOUSE, GOES TO THE STORES, AND MY HUSBAND AND I FILL IN WHEN THEY NEED MORE FOOD. SHE ALSO TAKES THEM TO THE SENIOR CENTER ON A THURSDAY FOR 1 1/2 HOURS, AND IF THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT THEY NEED DONE, SHE DOES DO IT. I AM ALWAYS CHECKING IN ON THEM WHETHER IT BE BY PHONE OR DRIVING OVER TO THEIR CONDO. ANY REPAIRS, ETC. THAT NEED TO BE DONE, MY HUSBAND DOES, OR IF I CAN DO IT, I WILL. NOW THAT THE SUMMER IS HERE I ALSO MAKE TIME TO TAKE HER TO THE POOL, AND SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH HER. EVERY SUNDAY, THEY COME TO MY HOUSE FOR DINNER, AND TODAY, I WILL TAKE HER TO THE POOL IN MY DEVELOPMENT. DO I FIT IN TO ANY OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT HAS BEEN ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, OR IS THIS ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEIR PARENTS LIVING WITH THEM. MY STEP-FATHER IS 97 YRS OLD, AND MY MOTHER IS 88 YRS, WHO DOES HAVE THE BEGINNINGS OF DEMENTIA. MY STEP-FATHER IS ALSO UNABLE TO PAY BILLS, DRIVE, AND BASICALLY THEY NEED SOMEONE TO OVER SEE THEM, AND BE THERE FOR MANY THINGS AS WELL AS SEEING TO IT THAT THEY ARE SAFE. KATHY

You "fit in" totally. This particular topic many or may not suit you, though your input is great. Feel free to start a new topic, if you choose.

I'm glad you are making use of in-home care. Some of these agencies are wonderful. Home Instead has a good reputation, as do many others. This type of help works well for many.

It does cost money, but it is worth it for the sanity of the whole family. You remind me of some of the caregiving I did over the span of 20 years (total of seven people). I used nearly all of the help available at one time or another, though there is much more recognition of need now.

Welcome to the site. Browse topics or start your own. You've found a good place to share your wisdom and ask for support.
Carol

Peace2,
Welcome, we are all caregivers; you don't have to have them in your home to be a caregiver. I took care of mom and dad in their home for 3 years before dad dies and mom moved in with us.
Welcome!

mip86, thanks for the response. I am gratefull for the information, and I will quickly check it out. I will post what I find out as it will be helpful to others.

MiindingOurElders (Carol), thanks for your response and the link. I went to the site, and I believe it to be a good one with lots of info. After I further review it, I will post my results.

PEACE2 (Kathy), welcome and I am also new to this message board, and it was my first post. It has been quite effective. So far I've gotten two responses very quickly and both have given me viable leads. Go for it, you deserve to get paid, as do we all. Hopefully, these leads will prove fruitful for all of us.

JAQ, thanks for posing the question. It seems there are many of us in the same situation. We will all benefit from the input.

To everyone seeking reimbursement, GOOD LUCK!!!!! Rose

Is there a list of help we can recieve if our parents dont' qualify for medicaid? my mom has too much for medical but not enough to give me a break. It is very costly in california

I'd see a qualified estate attorney who knows CA laws and Medicare/Medicaid rules. Many states are now funding programs, with Federal help, that can pay caregivers, but it's still not universal. At least check with your State Aging Services site and see where help may be available. Don't we all wish we lived in MA at this point?

Carol