Is there federal assistance for caregivers living with a hosipice patient? My grandmother was just diagnosed in-home hospice. She has many health problems and is 86. She does not feed herself, go to the restroom alone, can not walk, does not bathe herself, etc. She lives with my aunt and uncle and can never be left alone. A day-time sitter is paid for out of my grandmother's money. A nurse has been prescribed to come once a week and check my grandmother's health (check for infection, etc.). Is there any way to gain financial asistance for caregivers, including cost of the sitter, Ensures, Depends, etc.?
Expert Answer by Steve Weisman
There are some programs that may be able to offer some help for your family.
Medicare provides some payments for hospice care that may apply in this situation. In addition, some states are now providing coverage for some of these home servies through Medicaid. You should contact your grandmother's Medicare insurance provider and her state Medicaid agency to see if she qualifies.
You also should go to the website www.benefitscheckup.org. This exceptionally helpful website, created by the National Council on Aging, provides a simple way for you to identify, local, state and federal programs for which your grandmother may be eligible. The website has an online questionnaire that takes about fifteen minutes to complete. When you finish the questionnaire, the site will provide you with a list of programs that apply to your grandmother's needs. The information is confidential and you do not need to provide your name or other personal identification information.
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There is also Veteran's benefits. If she or her late, or living spouse served during war-time in any branch of the military, she could qualify for assistance for a caregiver.
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This is a common problem, as the previous expert has stated. There is another option available that many people may not know about. Your Life Insurance Policy can be a valuable asset to you at this time. In many cases, people find themselves struggling to pay for the appropriate care. If you have a life insurance policy, this does not have to be the case for you. There are companies that do a complete evaluation of your life insurance policy to let you know of all your options and will also determine the value or purchasable price for this asset. In many cases, as long as you are working with a Funder, this is no cost to you. Your policy is property that you own, just like your car or your house. You make payments to car and you make payments to your life insurance policy, making it available for a cash settlement. If you feel you would like to research this option, I am an expert in this field and would be more than happy to assist you in this important financial decision. Kevin Swan 800-542-9513 kevinswan@sellyourinsurance.com
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These are all viable options for helping caregivers financially. Keep in mind that for VA benefits, state and/or federal assistance, you have to be close to destitute to qualify for help. Any money/property transferred within 3 years of the person being cared for can cause benefits to be denied. Unfortunately, for the sandwich generation, we are losing everything caring for our parents and grandparents and before one qualifies for assistance, they also, have to lose nearly everything. I've been researching and speaking with VA, state and federal for 3 years, and cannot get ANY assistance for my 89 year old Grandmom (veteran of WWII and retired city employee). I care for her 24/7 and do not receive any finacial help even though I was laid off and have exhausted my own savings. Unless you are poor or lie, the average person, who has worked hard all their life, DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR ANY ASSISTANCE. All the propaganda out their is for show. Dept. for the Aging is useless. By the time the paperwork is reviewed and someone gets back to you, and IF you meet the guidelines and pay a fee for their help....you're already dead and buried. This is the reality folks, so plan ahead.
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9 years ago I gave up my solo life to move to another state to become the caregiver to my Mom who had AD. At that time I had 11 brothers and sisters and dozens of grown nieces and nephews nearby and out of state but within a 12-hr drive. I was in my 50's so I knew what I was getting into but I sincerely expected to get physical help and occasional financial support from some of these people. BUT HARDLY ANY HELP EVER CAME. There are no programs in her state that pays caregivers or give then any kind of benefit to help cover their expenses...not to mention any real compensation. My mother died during this summer and I was left flat broke....and with not much income coming in from my self-employment, home-based business. I am destitute. However, I think my siblings have agreed to donate the family home to me..as a way of compensating me for 9 years of sacrifice. But in the meantime, I am now 60+ but not old enough to draw soc. sec. until sometime next year. I am glad I made the sacrifice to be with Mom to the end - as I had promised her when I moved in. When you consider all the money family caregivers save the system, you'd think they'd be happy to throw them a bone. But there is nothing. IF ANYONE OUT THERE IS INTERESTED IN STARTING A PETITION TO GET MANDATORY FED AND STATE BENEFITS FOR CAREGIVERS....I'LL BE THE FIRST TO SIGN UP. Carrying this physical and emotional burden mostly on my own for 9 years has just about broke me....but I wouldn't trade those final years with Mom for any amount of money.
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i wont to know can i get paid for taking care of my disabled sister not what low program assistance to her, she already gets income
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