We went to Leeza's Place (in San Antonio, TX) today, so I could go to the Caregivers session and Hank with the AD crowd. It seems so sad that such a few take advantage of this free service (including snacks!) - only four in our group and none with Hank, though the advocate and a volunteer 'entertained' him for that hour. I have never heard of Comfort Keepers - and don't remember it being mentioned here. If you want to check it out go to www.comfortkeepers.com . They provide services in 550 communities. The only thing I couldn't see was how much they charge! So, if you need a break and they serve where you are you, might want to check it out.
I checked out the website. Comfort Keepers looks like a good service, but I'm a little confused. What do they have to do with Leeza's Place? I also went to the Leeza's Place website, but didn't see Comfort Keepers.
The facilitator mentioned this service is available in the San Antonio area. I don't think there is a link between it and Leeza's place, but it was recommended for one woman who needs respite. They had a brochure there, so I just picked it up. I couldn't see how much they charge, did you see that Joan?
Hi. Comfort Keepers provides in home care at the cost of $23 - $25 an hour. My husband is being taken care of by a male caregiver in Northern California through Comfort Keepers. They don't pay their caregivers very well but their workers' comp and unemployment insurance costs are very high. My husband took out a long term care insurance policy in Oct of 1998 before we knew about this mess. The Long Term Care policy includes a one-time 90-day deductible period in which I shelled out $6,088. Comfort Keepers provides care full or part time. They come to your home. The caregivers are bonded. They are not allowed to take your DH to their home or on their personal errands. My husband has had his male caregiver through Comfort Keepers since Oct. 1, 2007. My husband and the caregiver have bonded and really get along but the caregiver violates Comfort Keepers' rules by not making accurate daily notes. The caregiver was taking him to his own home and with him om his own personal business. Comfort Keepers' office manager and I had a meeting to straighten him out but he hasn't totally changed. Comfort Keepers likes their caregivers to cook them meals and do light housework. No, not ours. He comes from a culture where the wife does all of that. Comfort Keepers is working with me to stay on him to do what he is supposed to do. I will be trying out a different caregiver for a few days next week to see how it works. You are all probably thinking I am nuts for putting up with the situation but my husband really likes him. It's been hard.
Polly, I don't have your resources to afford Comfort Keepers. I went to the website and they don't have services within 50 miles of our zip code even if I could afford it.
Just because your husband likes this guy is no reason to shell out that much and not get the services you are paying for! Maybe your husband will bond with a new helper. I'll keep you in my prayers.
You may be paying Comfort Keepers $23-25 an hour, but I can guarantee you that they are paying the caregiver less than 1/2 of that. Most of those people make $8-10 an hour, which, unfortunately, in my experience has left a lot to be desired in their motivation. I am speaking from experience we had with my MIL when she need care in the home (she didn't have AD, just old age and wasn't able to take care of herself).
I agree with Mary - you should absolutely get what they promise. Your husband will forget the old caregiver and bond with a new one.
I am sooooooo sorry now that we didn't take out long term care insurance way back when. Yes, you do have to put out an initial high amount, but after that, it pays for itself. In another discussion, I mentioned my parents, whose long term care policy is paying for their assisted living facility (after they pay the first 100 days). Those policies are expensive, but they are worth it if you can afford the monthly payments.
As soon as I suspected a problem we took out long term care. Yes, it is very expensive. Twice I considered canceling until I saw two young friends have massive strokes requiring very long term care. After the first 100 days I no longer have to pay the premiums for DH, just my own. With out it I would have lost everything I own.
The year before we suspected a problem, my DH and I took out a Long Term Care policy. Yes, it is expensive, but, after our 90 day deductible, they pick up the rest of the costs 100%. Whether, it is for Home Health Care, Asst. Living Facility or Nursing Home, etc. They also waived the premiums for my DH when our deductible was met, so, we no longer pay any premiums for him. We used Home Health Care for over 8 mos., but, then I had to make the very difficult decision to place my DH in a NH. He was well beyond the Asst. Living Facility as he needed to have a secure unit as he was wandering everywhere and got agitated very easily. He has now lost his ability to walk, feed himself, and is incontinent. He is now in the later stages of AD, but is still hanging in there. He still eats very well, smiles alot and gets alot of attention from all the nurses and CNA's. I see him everyday for about 4 or so hours a day.
Also, Frand, I used a Home Health Care Company for the 8 mos. and I was charged $12 an hour. It was like what was described for Comfort Keepers. We also had a male Care Giver and he was fantastic. When I went shopping, out to eat with my daughter, etc., the Care Giver would cook lunch for DH. There were several times that DH would spill his food on the floor, and the Care Giver would clean up the mess and then sweep and mop the kitchen floor. The Care Givers cook their meals for them and do light housekeeping. He could not take DH in his car or leave the area. They were strict about this policy and they are all bonded. He walked with him, sat outside with him, watched baseball, etc. with him. He was really excellent, but, as time went on, unfortunately, my DH, got to the point we could no longer keep him at home. It has been about a year since I used Home Health Care, so, I do not know what the cost would be now. I feel it is somewhere around $12-$15 an hour in the Corpus Christi area. I do not know about the cost anywhere else. They are not nurses or CNA's, just companions for our loved ones, so, we can have a little break every now and then. Some companies do supply nurses, etc. but, this one did not. They are around $22-$25 an hour, if you need an LPN.
Frand, I am about two hours from San Antonio, in Corpus Christi. We live in South Texas near the coast. If you are ever near this area, let me know and I will e-mail Joang and give her my phone number and we could meet for lunch.
When I needed a companion for DH I went to our local senior center and asked if there was a man there would could give 2-3 hours a few days a week and make a little money. I forgot what I paid but it certainly was not $20--maybe $8, if that much. My husband was good w/the male bonding thing and altho he said he didn't want anyone, he immediately took to him, showed him everything in his shop in the garage, etc. They went to the park, museums, for an ice cream, whatever and it gave me time to breathe.
When we were at UCLA one counselor suggested I get long term care ins for myself, it was too late for DH & until then I didn't even know about it. I got it for my children because if something happened to me, it would be impossible their trying to care for both of us. I still keep it for myself--hope we never need it, but my experience tells me anything is possible. Really, I am doing it for them. They were very supportive in the years I cared for DH, I'm very grateful and don't want to see them go broke.
Thanks for all the comments. It sounds as if the person who has the franchise really makes the money and it is nice to know there are other options if needed. So far we are doing fine, but we all know the future doesn't get better. Kay Kay - it would be so much fun to meet you! We are heading to Albuquerque now, but may be back to Texas next year. Somehow that sounds like a hundred years from now... My exeperience with long term health insurance is that only the people who don't need it usually are the ones to buy it! My Mom paid in to that for years with no need and now there is a real chance we would have the need, but no policy. Oregon (our domicile state has the only right to die law on the books, but it doesn't cover AD since you have to have the mental ablility to sign the papers).
frand, are you traveling by motor coach, and just stop at certain places during the year? Do you have friends who also travel in their RVs that are with you or meet you at different cities? I don't know if you have said in your previous comments, but somehow I got the idea that you did.
I had the opportunity to take out long term care insurance three years ago and didn't. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Comfort Keepers put a brief post over on the Alz Assoc site:
We work closely with the Alzheimers Association and if you are in need of financial assistance they have applications for those of you who need extra finances to afford Respite care.
Mary, yes we do move around in our motorhome. Right now we are taking 6 days to get from San Antonio, TX to Albuquerque, NM - 750 miles. We rarely travel that far, with a goal of no more than 500 miles each month. At least half of our time we are near one of our children, or a place we have lived, or like San Antonio where we met up with 4 couples we traveled with last summer when we went to Alaska. As we were traveling today my DH basically wanted to know who those people were! It doesn't really matter, since they all like him and he likes them - whoever they are! All of this works better than anything else I can imagine and is much easier for me than when I had a time consuming yard and a home to care for. One thing about folks in RV Parks - they all like to help out even if you don't need it. I NEVER had anyone walk by my yard and ask if they could pull weeds, have you?
When my husband and I were in our thirties, and had four children and a tent camper, we traveled all over the U.S. stopping at National Parks and State Parks on three day weekends and summer vacations. We enjoyed it so much, that we decided that when we retired, we would buy an RV and travel the U.S. However, AD struck him before he retired, and I'm not able to retire yet, so I've had to give up that dream. I'm happy that you are able to do so! We have a beautiful country, and as you said, so many people who are willing to help those who need it (and even those who don't!).
Mary, don't give up your dream. Last year we bought a little Scamp trailer. They say it's a 13' but that includes the hitch. It's actually 10' and has a double bed, sink, full-size flush toilet, two-burner stove, fridge, furnace. It's small enough that I can pull it behind my Honda CRV and maneuver it by myself. We have taken it to the north Georgia mountains, to beach state parks in SC and FL. My husband can no longer travel but I'm planning some 3 and 4-day trips by myself and place my husband with relatives or Hospice House. I've recently bought some new flippers and a snorkel vest so that I can go to swim with the manatees in FL. Gotta keep that dream going.
Good for you Bebe, it will be rejuivanting for you to have a break and do some things you enjoy, we sold our home last year, bought a motor home and I drove it across Canada taking JR back to his "roots" had a great 3 months and some of those memories give me great comfort now that he is in care and pretty much non verbal.
How nice I'm not the only one living in an RV. Bebe, what a great trip. I hope you enjoy to the fullest. By the way, when we were moving to our next destination my DH asked me where I was. This is the second time that has happened. He also had our dog in his lap and asked me where LuLu was. That seems so strange - I don't remember anyone else mentioning this. Has that happened to any of you?
hello Frand my husband used to have conversations with me and they ask when I would be home, I would reply that she should be along shortly as I knew he would soon know me again. in the last few months before he went into care he did that alot, he would also look at a spot on the other side of the room while talking to me or look at another person in the room and address them as me. He is now in care and only knows me once in awhile. But I swear he still knows my touch, as he always calms down when I touch him. This is strange stuff. I miss his words so much now that he is pretty much non verbal. I used to think omgosh I can't answer this question once again and now I would give anything to have him just ask me a question. it is a sad journey we must take. kathy loving wife of JR
Northstar - Thanks for reminding me there will be a time of no questions! I continue to think I will be my DH's girlfriend when he no longer recognizes me as his wife. Still, none of this is something to look foward to, is it? At least you still feel you have the gift of touch with your DH. No matter, this is all very sad.
We used Visiting Angels, and I'm sure, like every caregiver company, there are good people and not so dedicated ones.
Anyway, one thing I learned from Visiting Angels is that you should not feel bad about asking to switch to another person. We switched twice, and instead of being insulted, the company was very receptive to trying to match my LO with a good personality for her. And, voila, there came Jane. Our Visiting Angel of mercy. She was $18/hour, and worth every penny. She was exactly who we needed. Hooray for Visiting Angels.