I am in WV, my aging parents live with me and my wife and we can't work for caring for my parents and she takes care of her mother several times a week. Mom just passed away and without her income we can no longer live here. How can I get paid or get financial help to keep our home and keep caring for my dad. My dad's social security is not enough alone. Since we are not working I don't see how we can even have my dad rent us an apartment at his age and illnesses..We need help.
Your dad's funds should be used for his care - not yours!
That being said, your father may qualify for Medicaid and if he is an eligible veteran he may be able to receive a non-service connected pension of up to $1,650 per month.
Contact your county Agency on Aging and the local Veteran Service Office.
1. When it comes to long-term care benefits and Medicaid (if Dad is over 65) Dad's income should not be a problem. To qualify for Medicaid when Social Security or any other source of income is too high, one simply needs to create and "Irrevocable Qualified Income Trust" to divert the excess income over the $2,022 per month limit. Call the Medicaid office and ask about this. Some states provide the trust document, others do not but they may be able to refer you to someone who will do it for nominal price. Also try your local Area Agency on Aging (every county has one).
2. Contacting the Area Agency on Aging will also put you in touch with other resources. How about Adult Day Care for few hours? How about cobbling together help/companions from friends, neighbors, church?
3. Does it really take two of you to care for him simultaneously? Take turns with part-time jobs.
4. This is America! What are you good at? Do you cook well? Have a hobby that others admire? Does your wife knit or sew? What can you buy and sell? Are you handy around the house? Would others benefit from your abilities? In other words....become self-employed and self-empowered. You are only 53! Half your life is ahead of you...is this the way you want to live it?
5. Since you are both taking care of elders...maybe you can take care of others as well...for a fee, of course!
You are obviously a family of tremendous strength or you would not be able to do what you have been doing. Stay positive, think out of the box, and go for it!
I re-read my posts and I apologize if I came off a bit strong. These are very tough times for many of us regardless as to whether we are taking care of elders or not. Guess I was just a little sensitive to this matter for I have recently run across a string of families in my practice who are singing the same tune but are really taking no action to help themselves.
Perhaps I am unusual in that I am an absolute pit bull when it comes to advocacy and taking responsibility. I often work 12 hour days to help families...lots of that time pro bono...and its striking to me how families will not stand for themselves as fiercely as I will stand for them!
Having to make money drives some people crazy because they are married to the notion that they must have an employer. I was simply trying to EMPHATICALLY make the point that there are always ways to make some extra scratch.
I appreciate, too, your comment about faith based organizations. I am neither and adovcate nor detractor of same but I do recognize the role they play in many communities...particularly rural ones (note our poster is from WV).
My point here, really, is that many communities have pooled resources to help families in crisis.
And if they haven't, someone has to start. Why not this couple?
I want to take a moment to apologize to you in the event that, as Pirate Gal pointed out above, I may have offended you and your family.
My intent was actually to offer you some "inspiration" and some hope that you can get throught this mess.
Therefore, I hope you will accept my heartfelt apology. As a caregiver myself, as well as one who works with caregivers everyday, the very LAST thing I wanted to do is be insensitive to another's plights.
I am particularly apologetic for I just noticed you stated that you recently lost your mom. My deepest sympathy to you and your family.
One last item occured to me with respect to your situation. Was your father a veteran who served during wartime? There is a VA pension benefit he may be eligible for. Let me know.
With respect to the home, is it titled in your name or your parent's? I'm assuming the financial issue with the house is the mortgage payment? If there is equity there it may be possible to transfer the property to your father and have him execute a reverse mortgage. This would not only eliminate the mortgage payment but would also provide access to the remaining equity. The downside is that if the residence is no longer occupied by dad for more than 12 months or if he passes away the house will have to be sold or refinanced. This means you will have to either move or be able to qualify for a mortgage at that time.
I of course have no idea how far behind you might be on the mortgage or where in the process of foreclosure you might be but again, I would encourage you to fight. Your county housing authority might be a good place to start for a referral to a non-profit organization that will help you buy time and hopefully rework your loan. No bank is going to want to evict an elderly gentlemen.
Thanks for being so open about your circumstances...
West Virgina has a Home and Community Based Waiver program. I'll bet it may be underfunded and there is a waiting list but you should get on it. See the services available and requirements here:
http://www.wvseniorservices.gov/HelpatHome/MedicaidAgedandDisabledWaiver/tabid/77/Default.aspx
Here is the contact info for the Director of the Program for West Virginia. Why not start at the top...
Julie McClanahan, Director
Medicaid Aged & Disabled Waiver Program
West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services
1900 Kanawha Blvd., East
Charleston, WV 25305-0160
Call her and ask her about the income situation. Mention the Income Trust!
There is another program in WV called "Medicaid Personal Care" which does have a very low income threshold ($674 per month). It appears to be targeted to those under age 65. This is not the program you want...maybe this is where the confusion lies with the person you spoke to.
There are actually several Medicaid programs targeted to the elderly in WV including a "Cash and Counseling" option called "Personal Options". Here's the link: http://www.wvseniorservices.gov/Portals/0/pdf/brochure-PersonalOptions.pdf
Call the agency below about this and other services such as help with your home. This is the WV Aging and Disabilit Resource Center website. Pick your county.
http://www.wvseniorservices.gov/GettingAnswers/InteractiveMap/tabid/61/Default.aspx
I'll be curious to learn what you discover...