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I'm a independent 90 yr old female. I can walk, dress, and feed myself but my children want someone to be with me in case I would fall.

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Do you have any idea how much this could cost? FF, one of our regular posters, posted that she had a $30K bill for providing caregivers for her father. For 24/7, you'd need 3 people, at I believe around $25/hour.

What you might consider instead is a fall alert monitor. We have an excellent service, for which I pay $40 monthly. These life/fall alert pendants/monitors are invaluable. They won't prevent a fall, they won't pick you up (but sometimes neither can one caregiver, who might have to call EMS), but they monitor the change status in the pendant 24/7. The 24/7 staff then calls immediately. If they can't reach you, they call a secondary backup (friend, relative, or EMS, depending on how you designate the 3 priority calls.

What you should also get if you decide on a monitoring service is an outside lock box in which to keep a key to your home so EMS can get in if you're unable to let them in.
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If they are just worried about you being alone then what about sharing your home with a companion rather than a caregiver? There are other older ladies in circumstances similar to yours who might welcome the chance to share expenses.
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Also, along with the fall alert monitor, I know a daughter installed video camera's in all rooms, and also sensors, and took all of the rugs away from the floors.

If you are independent, it can be done, but falls are very hard and I would be using a walker or something of that sort.

Congratualations, for being 90 and independent.

Have a wonderful Holiday.
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Ronsister, go to the phone book or on the internet and find different services that offer home care.... ask the agencies if the agency itself if licensed, bonded and insured, and that they provide workman's comp in case the caregiver/companion gets hurt on the job.

Depending on your area, as GardenArtist had mentioned, it could be $25/hour which would mean $600 per day, yes per day. In my area the hourly rate is a bit more, and there is time and a half paid for holidays. Eventually my Dad stopped the over-night service so that saved him some money.

If you hire someone who is not from an agency, you would need to contact your homeowner's insurance to purchase a workman's comp rider. This was something new I just learned about having workers at your home.

If your children want you to have someone at home to watch you, it would be better to hire someone who is very experienced and cool under pressure... not someone who would panic if you fell and pass out while trying to dial 911. Tell your children that you could still have a room full of caregivers and still fall in a blink of an eye.

If you feel unbalanced walking, make sure you use a rolling walker at all times instead of a cane. My Dad is 94 and that rolling walker was the best thing since sliced bread.
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Assisted Living is only about $100 a day and there would be lots of activities, social contacts, bus trips and in house entertainment. I would rather have that than be home staring at the four walls.
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Ronsister, how wonderful you have remained indep this long i hope u can stay in your home. If the main concern is falling i will tell you from experience having people around will not keep it from happening. My mom fell in rehab and one of my clients fell while i was holding her hand, it just happens with older folks. There are things you can do to minimize your risk. As mentioned have your kids remove all the rugs from your house except carpet, even non slip rugs because you can catch your foot on a corner and down you go. Install grab bars near toilet and inside and outside of shower. Always use a shower seat and never shower alone ( i mean someone should be in the house to assist you if needed). 😊 Then get a pendant as others mentioned one with fall detection so even if you cant press the button they know you have fallen. If you want a companion to come in you can hire a private caregiver/ companion for much less than an agency and that way you have the same person all the time, you get to know each other and feel more comfortable. If you would like info on a great site to find someone send me a message as i am not allowed to mention other sites on this forum. There are a lot of options to keep you at home. I wish you the best and reach out to me anytime. Hugs to you, Ruth Anne
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