Find Senior Care (City or Zip)
Join Now Log In
C
Charsthe1 Asked January 2018

Everybody tells me I should get paid for taking care of my 89 yr disabled mom, but where do I start?

cwillie Jan 2018
Here's another article I've found

www.agingcare.com/articles/how-to-get-paid-for-being-a-caregiver-135476.htm

Sendhelp Jan 2018
The IHSS program does exist in California through the Dept. of Social Services.

ANYONE who qualifies to provide the care needed is paid the hours determined by the care recipient's social worker. The care recipient is low income, and qualifies for
Medi-Cal (often referred to as Medicaid in other states). The caregiver can be a family member who qualifies, and is paid minimum wage with taxes deducted.

As suggested by CMagnum, keep your job, because one certainly cannot earn a living wage.
There will come a time when the parent requires more care than you can provide, other arrangement must be made.  However, for keeping an elder in their home with care longer, 
this is a temporary measure.

What is to be avoided, is if the adult child caregiver is dependent upon their parent for support; cannot earn a living due to addictions; or are themselves disabled,  this would not be a good mix for the care recipient, imo.  The parent should look for a caregiver elsewhere.

ADVERTISEMENT


cwillie Jan 2018
That this is a popular question. Unfortunately the site is having some technical difficulties so I can't find my usual links, but this article may be helpful:

www.agingcare.com/articles/medicaid-cash-and-counseling-allows-pay-for-family-caregivers-133268.htm

notrydoyoda Jan 2018
You start by not quitting your job and seeing if your mother qualifies for medicaid to pay for her care.

Hugemom Jan 2018
When I researched this, I discovered that there is no big payday for caregivers. I remember reading something about $40 a week and that would come out of the person being cared for’s financial assets. It’s not fair, but not much is nowadays.

sofieellis Jan 2018
I would imagine it depends on where you live. Eg if you're in the UK you may be entitled to Carer's Allowance.

freqflyer Jan 2018
Charsthe, I honestly don't know where everybody is getting this information. Please note the vast majority of grown children who are taking care of their parent are not paid.... unless the parent can pay you from their own retirement fund.

Now, you could check with Medicaid [which is different from Medicare] to see if your Mom can qualify. Your State may or may not offer a salary to family caregivers, depends on the State budgets, as Medicaid is funded by us taxpayers. If your State does offer such a program, please note the pay would be quite minimal.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ask a Question

Subscribe to
Our Newsletter