Question
Is there any financial support available for "sitters", supplies, etc. for a caregiver 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 the daily sitter, Ensures, Depends, etc.?
— Britney in Jonesboro, GA
Answer
Expert Steve Weisman hosts the nationally syndicated radio show A Touch of Grey, heard on more than 50 stations, including WABC in New York City and KRLA in Los Angeles. He is a practicing lawyer specializing in estate planning and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
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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