The following is from *Caring Connections, a newsletter from Home Instead Senior Care
Recently we posed the following questions regarding cost of care to recipients of our Alzheimer’s Reflections email:
How do you pay for care? What suggestions would you have for families struggling to pay for care for their loved ones? What are the biggest mistakes they should avoid?
Family caregiver Maria reports that it takes various family members to make it work. She writes, “My mother still lives in her home. My brother, who lives with her, takes care of her full time and my son helps. My sisters and I are the relief for my brother and son.”
Some caregivers suggest that eligible families reach out to the Veteran’s Administrations for help. Winnie writes of her experience: “VA has respite care available. It is not a lot, but it can relieve the burden for some families. The VA will pay for 30 days a year and up to 6 hours per day maximum. Most Alzheimer’s associations have grant money…again not a lot but it can get a family started. Our local chapter provides $400.00 per year.”
Others supplement family care with home care services. One caregiver states, “We are presently using “care services” once a week at $20/hr to give me a day out.”
Support in Portage County
If you have a loved one and are the primary caregiver, you know how difficult it can be at times. There is help! The Greater East Ohio Area Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group is a local resource you may want to check out. It is open to caregivers of all kinds involved with someone who is experiencing memory loss. It is facilitated by volunteers from the Alzheimer’s Association and meets on a regular basis.
For more information about the support group, you can contact the Alzheimer’s Association at (330) 966-7343.
6847 N. Chestnut Street, Ravenna, Ohio 44266
Contact Tracie Martin at 330-297-2576 for more info.
If you are new to caregiving, have any questions, or need information of any kind, contact Home Instead Senior Care in Ravenna at (330) 297-1700. They would be happy to guide you. You can also follow them on Facebook.
Sign up for the newsletter, *Caring Connections, and receive lots of practical information like that above. You don’t have to do this alone!