| Many of us will gladly take Mom to her doctor's | | | | 65 with limited income and resources immediately |
| appointments, administer medications, and check | | | | become eligible as well as those who are |
| in if the need arises without a second thought. But | | | | 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 (1). |
| these programs - make sure that your application | | | | Medicaid, aware that family caregivers are often |
| is up-to-date and all the necessary attachments | | | | the best care providers for Mom or Dad, will send |
| are included before you send it so that delays | | | | a check directly to the recipient to reimburse for |
| aren't any longer than necessary. | | | | homecare services rendered, though this amount |
| Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) | | | | depends upon various assessments of overall |
| Long-term care insurance, which functions as an | | | | needs and the average cost of in-home health |
| indemnity program, only pays the insured the | | | | care for that particular state. This money can also |
| amount that was contracted at the outset, and | | | | be used by family caregivers to purchase supplies, |
| regardless of homecare services that are | | | | medical equipment, or even to pay for ADLs |
| received, will only pay that specified amount. | | | | (activities of daily living). To find out if your loved |
| LTCI, which covers nursing home, home health | | | | one is eligible or for more information on the Cash |
| care, adult day care services, assisted living | | | | and Counseling program, please call the National |
| facilities, and hospice care, offers payments to | | | | Program Office at 617-552-2809. |
| in-home family caregivers, though the insurance | | | | Making the Arrangement with Mom Official |
| must include in-home care and/or homecare | | | | Since money is involved, it's recommended that |
| services coverage. In certain instances, LTCI | | | | family caregivers draw up some sort of short, |
| requires that family caregivers complete a basic | | | | typewritten contract that outlines the terms of |
| training program on homecare services and/or | | | | the caregiving situation in depth, including the pay |
| caregiving for elderly patients. Though almost all | | | | rate and frequency, job description and homecare |
| LTCI contracts include skilled, intermediate, and | | | | services that will be provided, and how various |
| custodial long-term homecare services, don't rely | | | | expenses will be reimbursed (if applicable). Hiring an |
| on this type of insurance to be your only fall-back | | | | attorney or other legal professional will help all |
| when it comes to paying for in-home health care. | | | | family caregivers involved create a legal |
| Though for clarification, you should contact your | | | | document that prevents sticky situations from |
| LTCI company directly for details on its family | | | | arising. |
| caregiver reimbursement policies as well as what | | | | It's also important to remember that this |
| is needed to qualify. | | | | payment is viewed as income by the |
| Medicaid Cash and Counseling Program | | | | government, so all family caregivers must report |
| A state-administered program, Medicaid is only | | | | their earnings each year as taxable income. |
| available to low-income individuals and families who | | | | Though the money received for providing |
| meet certain federal and state law eligibility | | | | homecare services is negligible, it will help to |
| requirements. In other words, if you have limited | | | | offset many of the costs associated with |
| income and resources, applying for Medicaid relief | | | | providing Mom (or Dad) with a loving, stable, and |
| is advisable; however, you must be able to meet | | | | comfortable home. |
| specific eligibility criteria. Persons over the age of | | | | |