Family members who serve as caregivers for loved ones could receive compensation.
Year after year, time marches on and leaves its mark on people.
For adults, the passage of time brings more wrinkles, aches, and pains.
Eventually, many aging adults will require assistance with daily living.
For those with adult children, one or more of them may step in to serve as a caregiver.
Because this role can be physically challenging, time-consuming, and costly for the caregiver, setting up a means of compensation for the work can be helpful.
Finances are a common stressor for family caregivers.
Not all aging parents require the same level of care.
Does your mother or father require help with daily activities like bathing, cooking, or dressing?
Are the needs of your parents strictly medical-related?
By understanding various supports your parents need, you will be better equipped to assess whether you might require additional help in your caregiving.
Caregivers should evaluate how much time can be spent on providing care and what tasks could require help from others.
With answers to these questions, you can have greater clarity about approaching the caregiving responsibilities.
The connections and memories you foster with your parents as a caregiver are truly special.
While caregiving provides "relational wealth," it can quickly drain financial resources when work in a career is sacrificed for caregiving duties.
Sometimes, being paid for your work as a family caregiver is possible.
According to Elder Law Answers, some state and federal programs offer monetary support to those caring for aging parents.
Medicaid is one government program with offerings in all 50 states for families to direct their own caregiving services.
What does this mean?
Aging parents can choose family members as caregivers rather than hiring an agency.
Because the details of this Medicaid program differ from state to state, you should contact your state Medicaid office to learn what options are available to you and your parents.
In some states, Medicaid offers waivers to allow for caregivers related to the senior to receive compensation.
Like many government programs, income and asset limits may exist, so you must check whether your loved ones would qualify.
Additional support may be available through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for those with one or both parents serving in the military.
Caregiving financial assistance may be available through the Aid and Attendance (A&A) benefit.
Support for caregiving costs may be available to veterans or their surviving spouses.
While caregivers can find their role rewarding, it is common for them to feel overwhelmed.
One such stressor is finances.
According to AARP, family caregivers pay for costs up to thousands of dollars each year.
Receiving compensation for their efforts can provide some relief.
Programs like the self-directed service of Medicaid can enable seniors to hire their family members as caregivers.
If you have identified possible caregiver payment programs, you can begin applying for the benefits.
Although each program has its own application process and requirements, there are a few universal steps you will need to take.
Assess the needs of your parent.
Programs often require a medical professional to determine the level of care a person will need.
You should schedule an appointment with a physician to officially assess your loved one.
Gather documentation.
Programs will require various forms and records to qualify for benefits.
You may need to gather proof of income, medical records, or other documents.
Contact your local Area Agency on Aging.
Local agencies and organizations can be invaluable resources for information on support programs in your area.
Apply to the appropriate program.
After you have all of your forms prepared, submit your application.
You may need to follow up periodically on the status of your submission.
If you need to navigate veteran’s benefits, Medicaid, or other government programs, you will likely benefit from the assistance of an elder law attorney.
If all of this seems complicated, it is.
Do not go it alone.
Consult with an experienced "elder law attorney" to help you navigate the process and the attending issues.
Note: Harvest Law KC does not provide "elder law services" but focuses on helping Kansas City area families and individuals prepare "estate plans" unique to their circumstances.
Not qualifying for Medicaid does not mean you have to leave family caregivers without compensation.
By planning ahead through retirement investments or long-term care insurance, you can provide reimbursement to your adult child caregiver while you are alive or after you have died.
A good caregiving plan cannot be created without understanding the level of care aging parents will require.
Once needs are understood, families can begin exploring programs like Medicaid or Veterans Assistance to secure compensation for family caregivers.
Government programs will require an application to be submitted with various types of documentation.
Because these programs can be challenging to navigate, some families prefer to secure the help of an elder law attorney.
For those who will not qualify for government programming, estate planning attorneys can provide directions for preparing for personal compensation for caregivers.
Because health does not remain stagnant over time, families may need to adjust their caregiving approaches as needs evolve.
This post is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. You should contact an attorney for advice concerning any particular issue or problem. Nothing herein creates an attorney-client relationship between Harvest Law KC and the reader.
References: Elder Law Answers (Sept. 5, 2024) “Where Do I Start to Become a Caregiver for My Widowed Mom?” and AARP (Oct. 15, 2021) "Can I Get Paid to Be a Caregiver for a Family Member?"
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