JOAN’S BLOG – WED/THUR, AUGUST 26/27, 2009 – FINANCIAL STRESS AND ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

We are surrounded by reports that the physical and emotional stress of caring for a spouse with Alzheimer’s Disease will kill us. Two years of blogs and message board posts in which we have opened up our innermost thoughts, fears, anguish, guilt, and emotional pain to one another attest to the extraordinary stress under which we live as we watch our loving spouses fade away to Alzheimer’s Disease.

During the course of our lives, many of us have faced financial difficulties. I am not speaking of “belt tightening”, as in cutting back from eating out four times a week down to two times a week. Nor am I speaking of buying a less expensive car, or cutting summer vacation down from two weeks to one. I am speaking of financial disaster, as in living from paycheck to paycheck, then losing your job altogether. I am speaking of having no money to pay essential service bills, such as phone and electricity, and having no money to pay the mortgage or rent when it is due. This type of financial stress will cause insomnia, anxiety attacks, deep depression, desperation, and often an inability to function on a daily basis. Having been up and down the financial ladder many times in almost 40 years of marriage, I fully understand the trauma of lying awake at night, trying to figure how to turn $50 into $5000, and getting up in the morning to the same anxiety. It never leaves you. The constant worry is with you every minute of every day.

Now imagine the “Perfect Storm”. Alzheimer’s Disease AND a financial calamity. I am aware that many of you are facing this catastrophe, and are stressed to the breaking point because of it. How to keep your home, care for your spouse, pay for help to care for your spouse. What will happen to my spouse if we lose our home? How will we cope? The worries and stress are endless.

Please take a deep breath and listen carefully. There is help out there if you look hard enough for it. In ALL cases, no matter to whom you speak about financial problems, ALWAYS tell them about the Alzheimer’s Disease complication. It has been my personal experience, and the experience of many acquaintances, friends, and relatives, that it is an “advantage” in getting you the proper advice, assistance, and leniency, more quickly that you may have gotten otherwise. I would strongly advise DO NOT GO IT ALONE:

1. Free legal consultations- most foreclosure and bankruptcy lawyers offer 30-60 minute FREE consultations. It is their job to know what course of action to take, and to advise you accordingly. Many will stop the harassing phone calls, and place collections on hold with a small retainer. (Which you can borrow from a friend or relative if you have a willing one.)
2. Local and Federal Congressman/woman – I understand that you may be surprised and skeptical at this one, but your congressman/woman can barrel through red tape much faster than you and a frustrating voice mail system. In many smaller towns, representatives are personally familiar with their constituents, and are very willing to help.
3. LOCAL Alzheimer’s Association – They know what financial assistance is available in your area, and they can connect you with the appropriate Medicaid, respite, and financial assistance agencies that can figure out to which assistance you may be entitled.
4. LOCAL Veteran’s Administration – Contact the Veteran’s Service Representative in your county. They are expert in finding financial assistance for Veteran’s, including disability pensions, medical care, respite care, and even much needed home repairs
5. Medicaid – Medicaid is a Federal Program, administered by the States, which complicates matters, because each State has its own rules and criteria. Since you are in financial straights, it is unlikely you can afford to hire an agency that guides you through all of the bureaucracy, but remember – FREE SEMINARS. Ask the Alzheimer’s Association for names of these companies; call them; and ask for either a free consultation or the time and place of their next free seminar.
6. Food stamps – These programs were put into place to help those in need. YOUR tax dollars have been paying for them. USE THEM if you need them.
7. Free medical clinics- Most of you and your spouses are on Medicare, but for those who are too young, and do not have health insurance, use the clinics. They are there for those in need, and currently, you are in NEED.
8. Utility hardship assistance – Many electric and gas companies have programs to spread out or reduce payments in case of hardship. Call and inquire. This is another case in which you must be sure to mention Alzheimer’s Disease
9. Religious Community – Contact your place of worship and inquire about assistance they offer. Every denomination of which I am aware has safeguards in place to help their parishioners.
10. Food banks – Maybe you have volunteered or contributed. Now it is your turn to receive the help.
11. BEWARE OF SCAMS. DO NOT RESPOND to the mail solicitations that offer debt reduction/consolidation, foreclosure assistance, bankruptcy protection. Most are carefully worded to lure you into thinking they are part of the government stimulus package. If you look very carefully at the fine print on the bottom, you will see that they say they are not affiliated with any government program.  If you want information about the government stimulus package, CALL YOUR LOCAL CONGRESSMAN/WOMAN.

You lose enough sleep caring for your AD spouse. Please do not lose another night’s sleep over financial difficulties. Get on the phone. Make the calls, and get the help you need. Once you have a plan in place, the heavy bricks of financial stress will be lifted from your shoulders, and you will be better able to cope with both Alzheimer’s Disease and every other aspect of your life.

Message Board Topic: Joan's Wed. Blog - Alzheimer's Disease and Financial Stress

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The Alzheimer Spouse LLC
2009 All Rights Reserved

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