Caregiver Information

Anita Green: A Caregiver's Story

Over the past three years, I have been the caregiver for my mother who suffered a stroke. I refused to leave her in a nursing home and decided to care for her myself. Initially, I had to quit my job. Now, I have created a schedule for both of us and have returned to work at night.

I assist my mother with basic tasks like grooming and bathing and I cook for her daily. I also help purchase her clothing, take her to doctor's appointments and provide her medications. My mother is able to feed herself.

My mother goes to daycare five days per week. I work at night when she is back at home by herself. When I am not at home, my mother has a Life Alert device in case any emergencies arise.

My life has changed dramatically since my mother became ill. I am now on her schedule, because she needs my care. I understand that part of my life is now given to another person.

I could really use more help from my family in caring for my mother. However, I made the decision not to place her in a nursing home. So, the responsibility rests upon me. My mother does receive eight hours of professional care per day. However, this does not cover all of her daily needs. If she needs additional care, I must provide it myself or pay for a sitter out-of-pocket because my family does not help.

My mother is not qualified for Medicaid because she is not yet 65 years of age. However, she has straight medical care, which covers delivery of personal hygiene items and monthly nurse visits. We also have a Medicaid waiver,* which helps with our billing procedures.

It would be helpful to receive more assistance with caring for my mother. My hope is that Ask Medicare can help direct me to additional community resources that will help me in caring for my mother at home.

*Eligibility for Medicaid, including waiver and demonstration projects, can not be determined by the Federal government. Each state has its own process and criteria for participation. If you are looking for information about how to apply for Medicaid, including waiver and demonstration programs in your state, please contact your state Medicaid agency.