Catherine Alicia Georges Named to Family Caregiving Advisory Council - Give her your feedback here!

[AARPTeri]

What caregiving problems are you facing with your loved ones? What questions and concerns would you like me to bring to the Family Caregiving Advisory Council?

Catherine Alicia Georges would love to get information from you that she can share!  Post today!

[geri194256]

Good morning, I have become caregiver for my husband, he has many health issues.  He was recovering from a heart attack and was doing very well, then he fall, and fracture his hip and was in a nursing home for six weeks, he is home now and requires necessary care, it's very exhausting.  We do not have a polciy to provide an aid to come in at least one day a week to stay with him to give me some relief.  Is there a organization that could help me for a modest fee.  Thank you Geraldine Schatz

[dangelojh]

Hello Cahterine,

One of the biggest issues facing caregivers caring a relative at home is the nationwide shortage of healthcare workers. I have found that it is difficult to arrange respite care with home health aid agencies for the following reasons: insufficient staff to meet demand, unwilling to travel without an increase in hourly rate (paid by the care recipient), and high hourly rate charged by some agencies. In addition, there is the added challenge of vetting care gives that one could hire on their own (e.g. from Care.com).

Please discuss this point and possible solutions with the Family Caregiving Advisory Council.

Thank you,

Jim D.

[AnnaM935632]

My husband aged 77 began dialysis when he was in re-hab so was able to get his treatments.  However, his insurance coverage ran out and was literally kicked out of the rehab facility.  He was sent home and was unable to get out of bed.  I was therefore his care-giver.  The problem was there was no one that could provide transportation to the dialysis center and therefore after two month died from renal failure.  We desperately needed transportation both to a dialysis center as well as doctor offices.  Some day I pray there will be a better system for home-bound patients to get where they need to go for their medical needs. 

[mr8115]

I am 56 years old and I take care of my husband that was injured on 9/11, I followed my husband with my two daughters to a new state cause we were told we would be taken care off through Red Cross with medicail for me and my daughters.   When we moved we tried to get benefits for myself and daughters with the door slammed in are faces, my husband is taken care of well from the state of New York, but we lost are benefits once we moved.  So we were paying for everything for my daughters cause they were constantly sick and meds and doctors visits were draining our funds that we received.  For 4 1/2 years I have been working for me to have benefits cause I became ill and funds were running low, so I was able to receive Chips until they became of age that they no longer receive it. My oldest was able to get good benefits where she is working, but still had to join the FML group so she wouldn’t loose her job.  For me and my second daughter we were caring for my husband and my daughter also gets ill very bad and can’t leave the house to much.  So the two of have no insurance, my daughter my just some insurance but not enough to help with the lung infection she get and migraines a lot of times.   For me I have a bad back for taking care care of my husband for many years, and our doctor put in for home health for. Helping us.  But again no health insurance and I have been applying many time with Medicaid in the state of Texas and the doors are being slammed in our face when we were tp;d we will be taking care of due to we our 9/11 survivors.

[PatriciaW414854]

It's a blessing to hear someone that is compassionate and advocating for the support of caregivers!  I was a paid In Home Support Services (IHSS) /Provider/caregiver in California. I had to relocate to Las Vegas to take care of my mother after her recent health event that occurred earlier this year. My mother has to be watched 24/7 and is no longer independent.  To my dismay, after much research & phone calls to receive compensation, I was told that Nevada does not pay caregivers for taking care of their relatives, which leaves me with no income. I agree that this is not a one person situation, but a situation on a National level. I suggest that with a collection of signatures and/or whatever it takes, get a Proposition on the Ballot re: All caregivers get paid regardless of taking care of their loved ones or others. This will allow all Americans to have a voice, decrease the unemployment rate, the crime rate and keep our Nation from going into another recession.

[JulieF499017]

I would am POA for my mom and Step Dad. I am primary caregiver 24/7 for both. I would like to see POA's get paid for caregiving. I had to put my business to the side to take care of them both. No family members here and not willing to assist.

[de89718947]

There should be a way to get Medicare to help pay for family caregivers. I can't work and paying for respite care could be better. It's the only way I keep sane. My father is 95 and has demenia. It's really hard to make it work with our budget.  Let me know if things change and thank you for your work.

[s35557c]

1. Dear Catherine  thank you for the work you are doing  to benefit caregivers   I am a family physician for the last 40 years  .Now  I have to leave my practice to be caregiver of my 86 year old husband that develop dementia getting worst.
2. He is a veteran and any help that they give is a long delay. I am waiting for stair Glyde for more than a year and still waiting
3. After 2 years waiting for bathroom for disable they approve and they start last friday  
4. Please notify me to whom I I have to speak un Veteran Health in PR

[drbeef]

Someday i would love to tell my Story too. I had just finished Medical School.. Never got a Chance to say Thanks to my Father for helping me through Medical School. He was Brain Damaged during Heart surgery. Was a Veggie and in Coma for 18+ years. Lost Our House. I quit Medicine to Help and Take Care of Him so That My Mom and Sister would'nt live on a Street. That was a Long Care Taking Experience and, that is a very Short Explanation of what else Happened!

[jimp861426]

Catherine i am retired but have a full time job , taking care of my self and my wift, 9 years with Parkinson and 3 yrs with lung cancer, she is going ok , but i know what it feels like , when you can't get any help. sometimes when we are  in the donut hole , her meds cost around $400.00 per mo. i don't have any extra money but i can call and mail people. Jim

[HelenaS892006]

Hi Catherine, I am 61 years old & a full time custodian at a school. I am also a full time caregiver to my spouse of 35 years. He is the love of my life and 64 years old, who came down with Relapsing/Remitting MS 15 years ago. I am finding it extremely difficult to carry on life the way it is, so I have decided to retire from my employment next year to care for my husband full time. I wish I could get paid for my caregiving, yes, I realize my husband could pay me out of his disability check, but that would be defeat the purpose of getting paid & maintaining our bills.  Spousal caregivers work very hard at trying to maintain every aspect of the home, property, relationship, bills, & self sanity. Also, depending on where you live, depends on the services that are available. There needs to be a better way to care for those who can't take care of themselves & still carry on. We've worked all our lives & looked forward to our retiring days & MS has just kicked us to the ground. Life is hard enough.

Helena Smith-Franke

Springdale, WA 99173

hsfwildtrax@gmail.com

[a380324d]

Could you set up a list of gerontologists that one can go to when they see problems developing?  I live in Fredericksburg,VA and have no idea where to go as i see the beginning of dementia.  I know there should be help but where?

[eh6158]

In Wyoming and maybe Montana, there are few places for respite care and when we need it, it is expensive. It would be nice to use Medicare for 1 or 2 days a yr. My 92 year old mother is living with my husband and myself. She has not been in the hospital for the last 4 years because I take care of her meds. I did put her in respite care for 5 days while I had my hip replaced.  It is hard taking of her needs every day. My stress level is high and Then I get sick. If there is anything you can do to get just a small respite for caregivers, it would be very helpful.

[GailL1]

@eh6158 

Concerning respite care -

In 2019, some Medicare Advantage plans are now offering new benefits - respite care is one of them.

These new benefits are NOT offered in original Medicare only under select Advantage plans and are just now getting started - hopefully this will be successful all around and more plans will begin to offer them.

AARP talks about these new services here:

AARP 03/13/2019 - Family Caregiver Supports in Medicare Advantage Plans: New Opportunities for Perso...

For original Medicare, respite care is only offered under Hospice care

Medicare.gov - Hospice Care Coverage

[hdegan5]

I have been caring for my wife for the last 32 years. She had a massive brain stem stroke and was in the hospital for 5 months. I quit my job after 38 years to take care of my wife due to the cost of help. We raised 3 great kids and now have grandkids. I love my wife dearly, but could use some time off now and then. Is there a place I could find help for a couple of day at a reasonable cost. She needs help several time a day for different functions. We live in Montana.