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I should have added to my list of options...
If mom is on Hospice or is eligible for Hospice you have the ability to ask for a Volunteer that will come and sit with mom as often as 1X a week. And up to 3 to 4 hours. A Volunteer can not do any "hands on" care though so no helping with toileting or giving medications. The Volunteer also can not "feed" a person, they can serve food provided.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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Go with Private Pay home care agencies. You can call and tell them what you need. It is not unusual to have two hours for companion care. I think for most agencies it is a four hour shift minimum.
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Reply to Scampie1
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Hi Mila, We often get this question. It's more difficult than you would imagine. I think that care.com might be an option to explore, but know little about the site. NextDoor may be helpful in your area. The problem, as you can imagine, for this amount of time, is that no one can live off of money earned by sitting a few hours with a senior. But this service is so very much needed. Usually for agencies that provide care there is a minimum required and it usually is three days a week four hours a day. I see this right next door now as a problem. The gentleman has a daughter and son-in-law living on the property and he is 90, in need of a bit of help, but not wanting to put this on the kids. He has an agency with people working the minimum and there is literally nothing for them to do for four hours three times a week. They stretch it out, water the plants, chat and even saw the gal yesterday washing the window in the door out onto the yard. But there's nothing for them to do. Fine if you are rolling in money and able to afford 40.00 an hour for this four hours three times a week. Otherwise not so good.
I really hope you find some help; people are naturally reticent to care for elders who have problems they aren't familiar with, whether physical needs or dementia.

Wish you all the luck.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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Mila58 Aug 4, 2025
This is Mila. Thank you for your helpful response and yes I agree , securing help a couple of days a week can be financially draining. I'm on Social Security and cannot afford private care assistance. Trying to see if she might be eligible for part-time intervention through Medicaid.
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You do not give any info on your mom.
If mom is able an Adult Day Program might be perfect.
Typically the program provides transportation so she would get picked up in the morning and brought back home in the late afternoon. A breakfast, snack, lunch are provided. Activities sometimes outings, and socialization with others. 3 days a week would be wonderful for both of you if you can manage 5 that would better but even for 2 or 3 days you both would feel a difference.

Hiring a caregiver.
If you can manage daily caregiver great. If not a few days a week would be wonderful. I have to note...Mom pays for the caregiver this does not come out of your finances.

Volunteer services.
Check with your local Senior Service Center and see if there are any programs that she may qualify for that would provide caregivers.
They may have a Volunteer Program where given notice a Volunteer would come sit with your mom. (Most if not all Volunteers can NOT do "hands on care" so if she needs help with toileting, eating, medications this would not work for you)

If mom is a Veteran or her husband was she may qualify for services/benefits through the VA.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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Your church, friends, Senior Services, Hospice(if it applies), Care.com, are just a few that I could think of.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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Mila58,

Eldercare Locator 
The Eldercare Locator is a free national resource connecting older adults with services in their area. Whether you need help finding an elder care attorney, caregiver services, housing options, or other supports, they can point you in the right direction.

Phone: (800) 677-1116
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