| Many of us will gladly take Mom to her doctor's | | | | age of 65 with limited income and resources |
| appointments, administer medications, and check | | | | immediately become eligible as well as those who |
| in if the need arises without a second thought. But | | | | are terminally ill or live in a nursing home. |
| with millions of loyal children caring for aging | | | | Fortunately, if the person you're caring for is |
| parents out of their own pockets, a little financial | | | | either eligible for or is currently using Medicaid, you |
| relief is welcome. Few family caregivers are | | | | may be able to receive direct payments from its |
| aware that you can get paid - however small the | | | | Cash and Counseling program, though it is available |
| amount may be - to care for Mom and provide | | | | only to family caregivers in select states, such as |
| homecare services. Due to the long working | | | | Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, |
| hours, however, some adult children caregivers | | | | Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New |
| have been forced to leave their full-time jobs or | | | | Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, |
| even scale back their hours spent on the clock, | | | | Washington, and West Virginia. In some cases, the |
| leading to a significantly reduced cash flow. | | | | person you're caring for may have too high an |
| Fortunately, if being a caregiver is causing a | | | | income, excluding him or her from the Medicaid |
| noticeable financial strain, there are homecare | | | | program; some states, such as Georgia, Maine, |
| reimbursement programs that can help alleviate | | | | Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Oregon, |
| some of the burden. Keep in mind, however, that | | | | have accounted for this oversight and offer |
| you must practice patience when applying for | | | | similar programs to family caregivers (Source: |
| these programs - make sure that your application | | | | National Governor's Association). Medicaid, aware |
| is up-to-date and all the necessary attachments | | | | that family caregivers are often the best care |
| are included before you send it so that delays | | | | providers for Mom or Dad, will send a check |
| aren't any longer than necessary. Long-Term Care | | | | directly to the recipient to reimburse for |
| Insurance (LTCI) Long-term care insurance, which | | | | homecare services rendered, though this amount |
| functions as an indemnity program, only pays the | | | | depends upon various assessments of overall |
| insured the amount that was contracted at the | | | | needs and the average cost of in-home health |
| outset, and regardless of homecare services that | | | | care for that particular state. This money can also |
| are received, will only pay that specified amount. | | | | be used by family caregivers to purchase supplies, |
| LTCI, which covers nursing home, home health | | | | medical equipment, or even to pay for ADLs |
| care, adult day care services, assisted living | | | | (activities of daily living). To find out if your loved |
| facilities, and hospice care, offers payments to | | | | one is eligible or for more information on the Cash |
| in-home family caregivers, though the insurance | | | | and Counseling program, please call the National |
| must include in-home care and/or homecare | | | | Program Office at 617-552-2809. Making the |
| services coverage. In certain instances, LTCI | | | | Arrangement with Mom Official Since money is |
| requires that family caregivers complete a basic | | | | involved, it's recommended that family caregivers |
| training program on homecare services and/or | | | | draw up some sort of short, typewritten contract |
| caregiving for elderly patients. Though almost all | | | | that outlines the terms of the caregiving situation |
| LTCI contracts include skilled, intermediate, and | | | | in depth, including the pay rate and frequency, job |
| custodial long-term homecare services, don't rely | | | | description and homecare services that will be |
| on this type of insurance to be your only fall-back | | | | provided, and how various expenses will be |
| when it comes to paying for in-home health care. | | | | reimbursed (if applicable). Hiring an attorney or |
| Though for clarification, you should contact your | | | | other legal professional will help all family |
| LTCI company directly for details on its family | | | | caregivers involved create a legal document that |
| caregiver reimbursement policies as well as what | | | | prevents sticky situations from arising. It's also |
| is needed to qualify. Medicaid Cash and Counseling | | | | important to remember that this payment is |
| Program A state-administered program, Medicaid | | | | viewed as income by the government, so all |
| is only available to low-income individuals and | | | | family caregivers must report their earnings each |
| families who meet certain federal and state law | | | | year as taxable income. Though the money |
| eligibility requirements. In other words, if you have | | | | received for providing homecare services is |
| limited income and resources, applying for Medicaid | | | | negligible, it will help to offset many of the costs |
| relief is advisable; however, you must be able to | | | | associated with providing Mom (or Dad) with a |
| meet specific eligibility criteria. Persons over the | | | | loving, stable, and comfortable home. |