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I had to quit my job to stay home with him. I need to have some kind of income. Please help

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Are you being paid to be his caregiver ?
Also have you looked into if you qualify for Medicaid ?
Hopefully others here with more knowledge about how this works will answer your question in more detail .
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Reply to waytomisery
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I believe the only options to get paid to be your husbands caregiver is if he is a veteran, as the VA does pay for some "aid and assistance" or if your husband is on Medicaid, as they too will pay for a few hours of caregiving each week. Other than that your husband would have to pay you out of his finances, which really wouldn't make much sense.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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Yesterdayanurse May 13, 2026
To qualify for Aid and attendance, a veteran has to have served at least 2 years during war time. Or had a military career. What chaps me is that veterans who came home and made a life, a career, and saved up for retirement can’t qualify if their savings exceed a certain amount. But a veteran who didn’t. can get the maximum benefit. However, I understand all too well that many veterans simply cannot function and work in a way to save for retirement. Those deserve all the help they can get. But IMO, any veteran deserves more than our good ol government provides.
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Contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA). They may connect you with:

respite grants
caregiver stipends
adult day programs
volunteer help
transportation
support groups
dementia resources
county assistance programs
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Reply to Geaton777
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If your doctor “has ORDERED 35 to 40 hours of in home care”, I’d suggest you find a different doctor. In home care is not a drug that can be ordered or prescribed. Long hours of care are very expensive, and any sensible doctor should know that it’s not something you get at a pharmacy for a few dollars.
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Reply to MargaretMcKen
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Geaton777 May 9, 2026
Here in the US if there's any hope of Medicare covering any of it, yes it needs to be "prescribed" by the doctor. Medicare can cover some medical in-home services for a limited time.
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This is when you start turning over ever rock for help.
Check with your local Senior Service Center or Area Agency on Aging and find out of there are any programs that might help.
If your husband is a Veteran check with the local Veterans Assistance Commission and find out if he qualifies for any benefits.
Also if you have not talked to an Elder Care Attorney to make sure all your "legal ducks are in a row" now is the time.
You may also want to consider the possibility of at some point having to apply for Medicaid.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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Medicare only pays for intermittant care which will not cover 35 to 40 hrs. Love when Drs prescribe something and they don't ask if its OK with the person doing the caring. My nephew has physical disabilities that keep him from being able to drive. His doctor keeps recommending a certain Hospital group for him to see. Its an hour away in a city. He can't drive and I won't drive there. Yes, there are closer options. Everytime I have to tell him the specialist needs to be closer.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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ForWhatItsWorth May 12, 2026
My PCP does this as well, in order to keep me in her network of providers owned by the same group. Maddening. I won’t drive to a city an hour away with lots of traffic when we have a specialist right in town. You have to ask, though. They act like it’s quite a big deal. But I’m on Original Medicare with Premera plan F so do a lot of self-referring, as long as I can talk the specialty into taking me as a patient. Then I call my PCP and she requests the records of my appointments to build a ‘full picture’ of me.
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you need to get medicaid assessment and help with in home care to be full paid for with medicaid. Look into CDPAP program where you can get paid as family caregiver. That didn't work out for me since none of the private pay caregivers wanted to register at the agency that I got cleared to work and get paid. You need backups. They're not going to pay you without backups. If he has too much $$$, then private pay and also learn how to do the chores of daily caregiving. What are hubby's health issues? Can he walk? does he do the activities of daily living? Can he get to bathroom himself? Dementia? Need more information. Hugs.
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Reply to CaregiverL
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There is some financial help, if he qualifies for Medicaid. Call a local county worker to start the application process.
I, too, had to quit my job to take care of my husband at home 24/7. I was worried about the stress of dealing with no-shows if I hired home aides while I continued to work. Then, I would come home and have to take care of him overnight.

I was surprised to learn that he qualified for waivered services for traumatic brain injury, and I could be paid as his caregiver. That made up for my lost employment income. That made my decision to quit work to stay home with him easier. It's been challenging, but rewarding, and I am thankful I get to spend every day with him.
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Reply to CaringWifeAZ
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Does he have medicare as well? If you do, medicare and medicaid would cover all those hours most likely through your community care program. contact your local senior services to ask about a case manager and an assessment to get him started with those hours.
I work with a home care aid agency therere dozens if you're in a fairly big city. This is exactly what we do. We send caregivers. to seniors over sixty, in their homes, who need assistance with adult daily living skills. You or your husband will be allowed to choose which agency you wish to work with. Call them today so you can put your mind at ease. God bless you both.
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Reply to TrishaAlvis
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JoAnn29 May 14, 2026
Medicare does not pay for everyday care only intermitant care with a doctors order. Usually PT/OT after a hospital stay. Its tempprary. Medicaid is income based.
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Do you have Long term care insurance? Medicaid? Or, try to be paid as his caregiver? If not, then you are out of luck? You will need to come up with $1280 a week or $66,560 a year and that is just for day time care. Good luck!
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Reply to WordsofWisdom
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Puma1953 May 14, 2026
Who;s going to pay her to be his caregiver?
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If facility care is in your future you need a spend down plan that does not impoverish you. You are allowed to keep a certain amount in your account . Do not spend down every last penny. See and Elder Law attorney to separate your finances under your state laws.
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Reply to MACinCT
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Medicare only pays for temporary and specific doctor-prescribed home health care, usually following a hospitalization. It does not pay for ongoing care at home. Would it be better for you to go back to work and hire in-home care? You would have some income then, but all of it or more would probably be spent on the hired home care! It is a problem for many of us.
Read everyone's advice here to help with ideas about resources you may be able to use for some of the help.
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Reply to RedVanAnnie
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Foamergirl May 14, 2026
I love your response, as that is me!
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If your husband has Medicare, I would call your local Hospice and they should be able to set you up with what is called the Guide Program. It’s not a lot of help, but it won’t cost you a thing. Medicare pays for the service. They will come to your house, evaluate your husband and send in the paperwork for you. Hopefully, they will be able to advise you on other programs that may be helpful to you and your husband. I have my mother on this program. I would do it as soon as you possibly can to get this process going. It takes a few weeks to be approved. My thoughts and prayers are with you. God bless you.
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Reply to SusanBigley
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I don't know that this helps, but I have heard some family members can find jobs where they telework/remote work so they can have an income and be caregiver at home.

This does not work for me so I pay all of my husband's income for caregivers while I go to work to have income to pay our bills as I cannot deal with the long, slow goodbye that has been going on for seven years.
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Reply to Foamergirl
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Dementia care:
Your husband requires memory care, either at home or in a facility.
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Reply to Patathome01
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