Can I get paid to be my mothers full-time caregiver?

My brother has Down's Syndrome and I get paid for being his Personal Care Assistant (PCA).  My mother recently had a stroke. She was his primary care giver but she can no longer care for him. I ensure that he is groomed every day. I cook, clean, do his laundry, take him on outings, make sure he is up in time to get to work, etc.

You might be able to be your mother's PCA through your state. Check with social services.  Good luck...and remember to take care of yourself first!

It's wonderful to hear from others who've done this. I've also seen people ask your question before; I hope the answers help you.

How do I go about finding information on Personal Care Assistant? My husband needs someone with him 24/7. We are facing dire financial difficulties. We need help now.

I would like to read a professional response to that

I read your question. I own a non-medical home care company in arizona & I have several employees that i am paying to take care of thier family members. The state altc program allows us to hire family members as a client's caregiver if they qualify for services.

I have been looking for answer to this problem. I've been employed for a long time, and my mother needs me more and more. Someone told me there is a way to get paid to be my mother's caretaker, and I would do it, but where to I get an application, etc. in order to get the ball rolling.

Julie Olen

I live in California and receive a stipend to take care of my mother. I wouldn't call it a salary as it is miserable pay and unless you have no bills whatsoever you can not live on it. It is just above the minimum wage. I do not know what they pay in other states but I do know that here each county sets their own pay scale. You should go online and look up your state's official page on ageing and it should list the name of this program for your state. I first contacted the MSSP program in CA which provides all kinds of social services for seniors. Those seniors who are low income do not pay anything for the MSSP service. That program gave me the information I needed on how to apply for the stipend. In CA the caregiver program is called IHSS (In Home Supportive Services). They will come to your house make an assessment of the needs of the senior and determine how many hours they need for care. There is a maximum number of hours allotted and they do not pay (again in CA) for 24 hour care. Rarely do you receive the amount of time that you actually put in. Her doctor will also be contacted in order to substantiate that she needs care. I maintain almost a full time job and put in an additional 30 hours a week caring for mom. I used to take some of the money they gave me and pay a caregiver to help me out but she quit because I didn't pay enough. This money is a huge help in any case whether it is supplemental income or if it is some income for you if have quit your job. You are going to have to check if this caregiver pay is based on financial need of the senior. If your parent can afford to pay for her own care and is not on Medicaid she may not qualify but don’t quote me on that. Again check with your own state. Good luck and don’t forget to go online to state and federal departments on ageing and start there...there is tons of info online....also Alzheimeirs Association gives out tons of free resources and referrals regardless of the person's diagnosis and they are in every state and every city. So YES there are resources, albeit sometimes limited, but you have to really search them out.

p.s. This program will pay a family member OR an outside person to take care of the person in question. The money goes directly to the person who does the work not to the senior. The senior has to designate who will be the caregiver and then the checks are sent directly to the caregiver after they fill out a time card and send it in. Everything after the initial asesment is done in the mail.

I would like to do this. How do I begin? How do I get the forms and find a contact? Julie Olen

I am working on either getting paid or getting outside help, to help me take care of my Mother, now. I'm in MS and I had to file for Medicaid for her, before anybody would even talk to me about this. As far as I know now MS doesn't have any kind of program that will pay a family member. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

You're lucky you got any thing in Calif. My sister received $800.00 for taking care of our mother who has dementia/alzheimer's. I thought that was at least, some help to her. I on the other hand, take 24/7 care of my husband. He had a massive stroke 2 years ago. He is 6'5", 240 lbs. California won't help us at all. I am also disabled. I just don't get it. And, yes I have searched, for 2 years for help. So I do pay, from our social security income, 6 hrs a week for a care provider to come help me and so I can get to the market,etc. If he had been a veteran I could have received some extra income. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't do anything else with hubby but to keep him with me and make sure he is well taken care of. But I just hope I can hold out.....It's extremely tiring, and that is an understatement. Thank you for letting me rattle on!

Here in Colorado, as well as states like New Jersey and Florida (others too, but I am not sure which ones), there is a program called Consumer Directed Attendant Services (CDAS). This allows the person needing care to hire whomever they would like. In my case, my wife has Muscular Dystrophy and the original Medicaid laws said that a spouse could not get paid to care for the person with the disability. This program circumvents that and allows me both a paycheck and the possibility of insurance. My wife lists the hourly wage and the only restriction is that a relative can work no more than 40 hours. If your state does not offer this, then there are avenues through Medicaid that would allow a non-spouse relative to get something. I am also a documentary filmmaker, working on films about people with disabilities and their families. My last film was titled "Caregiver" and gave me the opportunity to meet others who have used this same type program, when they have known. It is great that this type of forum is around to help those who don't know, because states NEVER make knowledge of these types of programs common.

I sincerely appreciate you writing back with information. Unfortunately California does not have medicaid. It has Medical (California), with much more strict regulations, especially since we, as a state are going under financially and alot of the programs they had are "no more". I would love for someone to find something to help us. I have worked on it for 2 years with the help of 2 social workers. We are considered to be in the middle income, not rich and not poor but working toward the poor quickly. Thank You for your response. I will check on CDAS in California.

Good Morning

I did goggle CDAS + California....it took me to the National Disabiities Act. I found nothing to indicate that we have CDAS in Calif. CDAS did talk about Colorado. I do hope your wife and you are having a good day. Again, thank for for your suggestions....I'll take all I can get.

Sorry it couldn't have been of more help. I hope you can find the help somewhere in this financial mess, especially in California, where it is worse than just about anywhere.

My husband is totally disabled at 59. We live in florida. I would like to bring him home from the inpatient rehab he is in now but I would have to quit work. Can I be compensated as a caregiver. I am also a L.P.N.

I wish I could give you an answer. I'm so sorry about your husband. I am only familiar with Calif. law. My husband is also totally disabled. Try asking your/the social worker at the rehab. center where your husband is. I found the social workers have a wealth of knowledge. God Bless and Good Luck.

thank you

I called the CDA (Calif. Dept. of Aging) who gave me another number to call for County in-home support services, which is 1.888.944.4477, and in the L.A. area 1.213.744.4477. They are sending my mother a packet with forms to fill out. I'm praying she drops the attitude about medical and utilizes the services it has taken me so long to find. Also,regarding her lost hearing aid, they told me to call 211 in L.A. County, and they will tell me what services are available to help replace it. I will report back, if there are such services in California. We'll soon find out.

SandynMesa, I would like more information about your program. I am caring for my mother who I recently moved out here to receive treatment from the Mayo Hospital, her husband, my step father, left her here and went back to Nebraska - I hope you can contact me somehow, I really am desperate to talk to someone on this topic. Sherri

Arizona Reader: HELP

I read your insert - "I own a non-medical home care company in arizona & I have several employees that i am paying to take care of thier family members. The state altc program allows us to hire family members as a client's caregiver if they qualify for services."

I need contact information to have altc pay my brother who we've asked to be our mothers Personal Care Assistant. Because of the need, he is unable to work, he with her all day, and does everything we ask of him. He is receiving food stamps and medical for himself, but is unable to pay her rent and deal with his personal needs and think of future plans of his own. We can not afford to pay him, but we do what little we can. If he could get paid for being her PCA this would help and support him.

Please assist - we've been told that he should be able to receive payment.

My friend had no insurance so she couldn't get help when she found out she had stomach cancer. She was rushed to the ER and they did surgery for the cancer. The tumor went from her pelvis to her breast and then around her torso. She will need chemo and another surgery. I offered to take her in because she has no money and no one to care for her. She is living in a motel, cheap rent. She lost her job due to being sick from the cancer. She is not a family member will I be able to get help of any kind?

My Father is getting ready to move in with me and he lives in TX and I live in IL. I have no idea of where to turn to know what I need to get together in order for him to move in with me. Like you all I was wondering if I could get paid for taking care of him as well? I don't know the first thing about all of this and any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Dorym73,

What kind of insurance does he have? Is it public or private? That would be the first place to start and then check the policy to see what it covers. Most private policies wouldn't come close to paying a family member, but a public one, like medicaid, might - depending on the state. At that point, you would have to check Texas's social services rules and regulations. I hope you find the info you need.