Many of our new readers are struggling with finances (as are most of us). They are looking for advice on holding a job and caring for an AD spouse; for financial planning; for assuring a future that doesn't include pushing a shopping cart down the street with their belongings in it. Check out today's (10/10/07) Blog on finances and help us out with your ideas and advice.
The best thing I did was make sure I had good advice about finances. I do have a financial person who takes care of things for me. Her father has AD and about the same amount of money as we have, so she does take good care of me. I was an accountant professionally, so have always taken care of everyting finacially. It is when thinkgs need fixing that get to me without my handyman husband. For those who are struggling financially, my heart goes out to you. Joan had some good advice on the blog about checking with the Alzheimer's Assn. about help with your spouse.
Yes - go to the left of the website- click on "previous blogs", and scroll down to #59 (I think that's the number). Or you can just click on "Financial Information on the left side of the website.
Sorry my answer is so late, but we're out in California visiting, so I haven't had too much time to check in. I also plan on answering your other message about your daughter and step daughter. It may take another day. We're traveling home tomorrow.
I am trying to get a handle on what to expect for costs. We have always been low to the lower end of mid income. Have some retirement savings and debt free thank the Lord. The only recent figures I come up with is $174,000. I did find some old info. that showed how they figured the cost and it figured market labor rate for everything we do anyway, ie cleaning, cooking, yard work, shopping, etc. I am trying to figure what about what I will be facing out of pocket. We do have medical insur. but no long term care. My father also has Alzheimers and brother in law frontal temporal dementia so we are on our own. Anybody have any ideas or info?
Hi ann mc, I am posting for the first time on this web site, so hopefully this will be OK.
I had to put my DH in a Nursing Home in May of this year. It was one of the hardest decisions to make, but, I had no choice. I was his Caregiver, 24/7 for the last 3 years, but, mentally and physically it got to be too much for me. I tried the At Home Care, but, this was not working either. I found a wonderful Nursing Home just 2 miles from our house. I am very involved with his care and see him everyday. He is doing really well, under the circumstances. He is in the 6th stage and the reason I had to make this decision was he started to get very aggressive and angry at me. With some changes in his Meds, he is now so sweet and calm. But, with the progression of the disease, he is now incontinence, does not talk very much and cannot feed himself. We had to go to pureed foods last week, but, he eats everything now, compared to just some foods before. The Nurses help me through all the things we encounter. They call me when something comes up and of course I see them everyday. We walk, I talk to him, give him hugs and kisses and tell him all the time how much I Love Him !!!! I bring our little dog "Fancy" to see him, bring the grandkids, the preacher comes by every other week and then our daughter, when she is not working and caring for the two little ones stops to visit. I am meeting alot of the other residents and their family.
The answer to your question about cost, etc. I have Long Term Care Insurance, but, I get the copies every month of the bills being paid. It is approx. $3600 a month or $43,000 a year. This includes room, food, diapers, creams, vitamens, laundry, 24/7 nursing staff, etc. But, then we have the monthly meds and any co-pays for doctors we need to come out of pocket with. So, I would say a good estimate would be approx. $47,000 a year. I live in South Texas, (Corpus Christi) and this is a much less expensive area than when we lived in Las Vegas two years ago. My husband wanted to re-locate back to Texas, so, we both decided to move to Corpus Christi and be beach bums for as long as we could. In 2002, my Step-Dad came out of pocket for two years for my Mom in the DFW area, she was having heart problems and he was paying approximately $45,000 a year back then (This did not include laundry, diapers, creams, or prescriptions or co-pays etc.) So there are varying degrees of cost and what is covered. It is according to where you live. There is a 4-5 month waiting list where my husband is living. When things went really bad, I was lucky to get the last room for a man in the Alzheimers Special Care Unit.
Hope this info helps some. I am like everyone else, I just go from day to day and pray for strength to get us through this Alz. Journey. It has been tough for the last 6 years, but, somehow I find the strength to continue and of course, the love both my DH and I have for each other after 26 years of marriage, keeps us going !! The pain I feel is still very much there and the loneliness seems to never really go away. It is a struggle, but, we have our friends on this web-site to help us through.
Welcome to my website. I am sure you will find support and understanding here. We are all dealing with various stages of the disease, but it seems that from the beginning when our spouses' personalities first begin to change, the loneliness takes hold and, as you said, never goes away.
Thank you for all of the financial information. It was a big help to me, and I am sure to many others.
Welcome to this sharing board. It does help the loneliness when you have a place to share your problems. Thanks for the financial information. I am facing placing my DH, who is in about stage 6. Hoping I can hold out for the home where I would like him to be, which has a six to eight month waiting list. I do have a wonderful women that helps me three days a week.
We moved to Colorado seven years ago from Corpus Christi where we lived for twenty years. My husband could not do his job, so he was forced to retire because of the AD, then undiagnosed. I didn't know someone at age 58 could have Alzheimer's. I am glad you have long term insurance. We do not, so it is going to be a struggle for us. Cost are higher here. I am looking at least $5000 a month.
My heart goes out to you. It is a difficult journey and one that is lonely. It takes so much patience and love to do this job. I do everyday feel the love I have for my DH and it does keep me going. God bless
I live in So. Cal. I have been to 2 nursing homes. One $170 per day =approx $61000 per yr. very small rooms 2-3 beds, older, 11 to 1 aids ratio. The other $200 unsecured, $215 secure AD area, $77,400 per/yr. A little nicer and has a good reputation until a few months ago. No insurance coverage on him. I have LT care ins. didn't think we need it for him. I thought I was strong and young enough to care for him. I didn't think about AD. Board and care homes are nicer and cheaper. I am going to an Elder Law Attn and will go the Medi-Cal route. I hate it, but it is what I will need to do, if I can not go all the way.
Kay Kay, I have a sister in Corpus Cristi, she has The Gatherings gift shop. If you are ever in there say "Hello" to Marsha.