I seem to remember hearing or reading recently about a new law that will pay a caregiver $$$ for caring for a spouse or family member when that is their only job, and they can't work outside.
I hope it's true and I just didn't dream a wonderful dream. It wouldn't help me now but it would certainly help the rest of you.
Yeah, I read or heard the same thing, but after I read more about it, it seems it was "a wonderful dream". Don't remember the facts, but it seems like you had to have no income, no assets, no family, and no friends, and you had to be blind and or deaf in order to qualify. Either that , or there was no such thing here in TX. I don't remember....probably getting AD myself.
I doubt you will ever see this come to fruition....the nursing home lobby is very strong and would fight any plan that would take money out of their pocket......
Now here is where me going to all these conferences and Advocacy training pays off. I now know a woman who works in Washington DC who can answer your question. I will e-mail her tonight.
There are a lot of Churches in our area who operate Food Pantry's. My cousin works in one. I think it is once a month if you are in need of assistance they will give you a nice bag of groceries at least once a month. They monitor to keep it in the area of the Church, but there is more than one in an area. Some of them also have clothing. Anyone needing help I would recommend you check for Churches Food Pantry's near where you live. They also get in extra things occasionally, like a bag of apples, potatos. No shame in that.
We've had to start using a Pantry. We can go twice a month. It's set up like a store, so you can select from the stock what you can/will use or need. Each area has a number assigned that lets you know how many items from that area you can take--so everyone has a chance at the supply. We are given between 4-6 plastic grocery bagsful. Besides canned and boxed goods, dairy, produce, some meat and bread, sometimes we also receive toothbrushes, toothaste, dish liquid,toilet tissue, make up, etc. Our Feed America warehouse is a key source for the pantry stock, and they even get in and distribute pet foods, birdseed, etc. when available.
Before my DH was DX'd, he volunteered at the food pantry here in our small town. They do a wonderful job. We still contribute to it and help out with their fundraisers when we can. With the economy the way it is right now, more and more families need this help.
There is a program in some states called Cash and Counseling.
http://www.cashandcounseling.org/about
Cash & Counseling offers Medicaid consumers who have disabilities more choices about how to get help at home. Specifically, it gives frail elders and adults with disabilities the option to manage a flexible budget and decide for themselves what mix of goods and services will best meet their personal care needs. In some states, children with developmental disabilities are also served. Cash & Counseling participants may use their budgets to hire their own personal care aides as well as purchase items or services, including home modifications that help them live independently. The Cash & Counseling Vision Statement fully describes the essential components of the model.
Cash & Counseling was sponsored by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation in the United States Department of Health and Human Services (ASPE/DHHS), and the Administration on Aging (AoA). With the cooperation of the aforementioned agencies and the National Program Office located at the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work, a three state Cash & Counseling Demonstration was implemented in 1998 to compare the Cash & Counseling consumer-directed model with the traditional agency-directed approach to delivering personal assistance services. Following the success of the Original Demonstration, funders granted an expansion of the Cash & Counseling program. The vision guiding this expansion was the promise of “a nation where every state will allow and even promote a participant-directed individualized budget option for Medicaid-funded personal assistance services." The replication state grants ended in early 2009, however, the 15 Cash & Counseling states continue to operate their projects.
The National Program Office at the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work directed the original demonstration and the replication project. Following the end of the grant period, the National Program Office evolved to become the National Resource Center for Participant-Directed Services (NRCPDS).
Find out if your state offers a Cash & Counseling program and find contact information on our State Map
The federal government recently made it significantly easier for any state to introduce a Cash & Counseling option through new provisions in the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act. As of January 2007, federally approved “waivers” are no longer required for states to offer flexible budgets to eligible Medicaid consumers and their families so that they may purchase the disability services and supports of their choosing. In addition, the 2006 reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA) makes it possible to now include a Cash & Counseling option in the provision of OAA-funded services.
One of the questions from the FAQ:
4. Is it right for the state to pay family members and friends for taking care of their loved ones?
Family caregivers are the backbone of our country's long-term care system, providing millions of hours of care every year for no compensation and frequently at great cost to their own emotional health. They're burned out and exhausted from juggling work, family responsibilities, and caregiving. In addition, many caregivers have to reduce their work hours or even give up their jobs to take care of their loved ones.
By supporting caregivers, we're helping them hang in longer, and, hopefully, relieving some of their stress. Keep in mind, that even with Cash & Counseling support, family caregivers are typically paid lower-than-average wages and, in most cases, are paid for only a small fraction of the hours of service they provide.
Original States: Arkansas Florida New Jersey
Expansion States: Alabama Illinois Iowa Kentucky Michigan Minnesota New Mexico Pennsylvania Rhode Island Vermont Washington West Virginia
I just heard from the Advocacy Training woman in Washington DC. This is the information she sent:
"There is a federal bill that fit the description of “a new law that will pay a caregiver $$$ for caring for a spouse or family member when that is their only job, and they can't work outside”. It is called the CLASS Act and is part of the HUGE National Health Care debate.
See the description below."
CLASS ACT
On March 25, 2009, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Congressmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
introduced the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act of 2009 (CLASS Act)
(S. 697 and H.R. 1721); the bills would create an insurance program for adults who become
functionally disabled. This legislation will help people with severe functional impairments and
their families to pay for the services and supports they need to stay functional and independent,
and to have choices about community participation, education and employment.
How It Works: The CLASS Act will establish a national insurance program, financed by
voluntary premium payments collected through payroll withholding (not to exceed $30 a month)
and placed in a “National Independence Fund.” The Department of Health and Human Services
will manage the Fund as a new insurance program. Anyone who is 18 years old and actively
working would be automatically enrolled in this program and would contribute to it through
payroll deductions. A worker may opt out of the program. The large risk pool created by the
CLASS Act will make coverage much more affordable than it is currently.
Retirees and individuals that are not working and is over 18 years old, may also pay into the
system, and receive benefit.
Benefit Eligibility: People who have contributed to the program for a minimum of 60 months
and are unable to perform two or more activities of daily living (ADL), such as feeding, dressing,
bathing, toileting, or walking; or individuals who have an equivalent cognitive disability will be
eligible to collect a benefit. Eligibility for benefits will be determined by state disability
determination centers on two cash benefit tiers. Tier 1 benefits ($50/day) will be for individuals
who are unable to perform two or more ADLs or have the equivalent cognitive impairment.
Tier 2 benefits ($100/day) will be for individuals who are unable to perform four or more ADL’s
or have the equivalent cognitive impairment.
Eligibility for CLASS Act benefits will be independent of whether or not an individual is
eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or retirement benefits, so participation in
the CLASS Act insurance program will not impair an individual’s ability to remain qualified for
SSDI. If an individual is eligible for CLASS Act benefits and is also eligible for the long-term
care benefit under Medicaid, CLASS Act benefits can be used to offset the costs to Medicaid,