Can a son be hired as a home health care provider for their mother that is on social security?

Question

I am not able to work and take care of mom will not put her in nursing home till last resort please help.

Desperate son going broke.

Larry

Answer 1

yes

Answer 2

Depends on where you live and if you are qualified. Are there any agencies in your area that you could call and find out? I live in Mich. and we had health care nurses for my grandmother that came in daily to take care of her, and soc. sec. paid for it. I hope this helped, you know you have to take care of yourself too. Caring for an elderly relative can be so hard.

Answer 3

Larry -- like one of the other answerers pointed out, it depends on the state you live in.

Because of abuses to the Social Security system (family members being hired to provide care to family members and then taking money without providing care), it may be extremely difficult to have this put in play.  

If your mother is unable to manage at least 2 ADL's (activities of daily living) and she's on Medicaid (which I have a feeling she is if you're going broke), you really only have a few options.  LTC or Adult Day Care.  Some states have incentives for Home Health care -- contact the human services department or the state office of Medicaid for more info.  If your mother is on Medicare, be VERY careful about putting her on any kind of Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans, which combine parts A and B with other benefits, depending on the insurer) -- always make sure her current medical providers ACCEPT the Part C coverage before you make the change!

If you exhaust yourself or bankrupt yourself trying to care for your mom, you will not do her any favors.  She may or may not be able to see that you are doing the best you can -- but I don't know any parent that would want their child to become destitute just to keep caring for the parent at home.  I know the ideal situation is being able to continue to care for your mother, as she took care of you as a child, but the reality is that caring for a child has VERY different challenges than caring for a grown adult.  For perspective on this, go to your local library and read up on books like "How to care for your aging parent", "Taking care of your parents on a fixed income", etc.  Join what groups you can that are for people in similar situations -- perhaps you and they can trade care days for both parents?  

Try to talk about this with the health provider for your mother.  They may be able to recommend a professional who can look at your economic situation, the health needs of your mother, and find (and summarize) the options that are available to you for Long-term care, short-term care, home-health care -- at the very least, you need RESPITE care (time where someone else cares for your mother while you take a much needed break of a week to two weeks).

If you are both unable to work, have no outside income, and no other assets available, and you're on Medicaid -- you may have to make some tough decisions.  See if there are any volunteer groups that provide senior care, community organizations that provide visiting nursing care (for prescriptions you can't give her), or other supportive help for YOU while you try to continue to give care.

In a situation where she's on Medicare -- you may have to engage in a 'spendown' for her to be eligible for Medicaid.  Do so with extreme caution -- the rules for asset transfers or gifts to other family members are very tight -- and usually must occur at least 5 years PRIOR to Medicaid coverage.

Answer 4

If your mom is paying, sure, nothing stopping her from paying you.  

If you want someone ELSE to pay, you'll have to be a qualified, licensed, registered health care provider in order to be paid by them.