Finances are a serious concern for family caregivers who may need to reduce their work hours or stop working completely to provide their aging loved ones with care. Fortunately, there is assistance available to help you get paid for taking care of your parents, and you can use this guide to get started on finding the best options for your situation.
Find Out What Assistance Is Available
Depending on where you live, there may be government or community programs that are willing to pay family caregivers. For instance, Medicaid allows for family members to be paid as caregivers under certain circumstances, and many states also have separate programs that may cover your pay. Your loved one’s health insurance policy may include coverage for family caregiver pay. If you’re currently working, your employer may also offer pay during your extended leave. Make sure to check out all possible sources of income so you have the best chances of finding a solution that covers what you need.
Determine Your Eligibility
Each type of program requires adhering to specific standards. For instance, some programs may be income based, which means your loved one is only allowed to have a certain amount of money coming in on a regular basis or a specific amount in his or her bank account. Other programs may only provide pay if you don’t live in your parent’s home. Your parent may also need to meet certain health requirements, such as having a professionally diagnosed chronic illness or injury that limits his or her independence.
Some programs may pay for the help of a professional caregiver under certain circumstances. If you’re the primary family caregiver for a senior loved one living in Fort Lauderdale, home care is available around the clock if your loved one’s health has become too difficult to manage without professional expertise. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we take measures to help seniors prevent illness and injury by assisting with exercise and mobility, preparing nutritious meals, helping with bathing and other personal hygiene tasks, and much more.
Understand the Guidelines
Programs that pay family caregivers may have other guidelines in place regarding how much care they cover. For example, you may only be able to be paid for a certain number of hours each week. In these cases, you may need to supplement your loved one’s care with other options that are also covered by insurance, such as professional in-home care services.
If you’re able to add home care professionals to your caregiving team, take the time to do thorough research. When searching for reliable elder care agencies, families want to know their senior loved ones will be well taken care of. At Assisting Hands Home Care, our expertly trained caregivers are available around the clock to assist with tasks around the house, provide transportation to medical appointments and social events, and much more.
Start Applying for Financial Coverage Early
Due to the increasing senior population, there’s a significant need for family caregiver pay. This need, combined with reduced staff in many government and healthcare offices, means there’s often a long wait for applications to be processed. Once you identify a potential source of income, put in your application right away.
Gather & Submit Essential Documents
A significant part of the application process involves submitting documents that prove you and your loved one’s eligibility and need for caregiver pay. For instance, you may need to submit your loved one’s health records or information regarding the hours you provide care.
Start a file that helps you keep track of essential documents, and mark down when specific items are sent. This way, you can continue to monitor the progress of your application so minor issues along the way are quickly addressed. While it does take time and effort to get paid, the work you put in will be worth it when you can care for your parent without the stress of worrying about finances.
Being a family caregiver can be extremely rewarding, but it can also pose financial challenges. Following the suggestions above may result in monetary assistance that eases financial worries and gives you peace of mind knowing you’ll be able to continue caring for your loved one.
Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Fort Lauderdale senior home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help. To hire a dedicated caregiver, call us at +1 754-900-5102 today.
