Will Medicare pay for a caretaker? Dad is very ill.?

My dad is very sick and weak. We (his 3 kids) have been alternating with help, meals and whatever care is needed. Luckily my brother lives with him. However, the burden on him is high as he works and dad is at the point of needing near constant attention.

Other than a hospice program will Medicare pay for a professional to help him out? I believe he has some type of supplemental insurance (perhaps through medicare) but I'm not 100% sure.

Any advice is appreciated.

Your your dad is very fortunate to have your concern, that of your sibings and especially the day-to-day caregiving commitment of your brother. I am sorry that he is so ill. You are wise to be asking questions for his benefit and for the well-being of your brother.

Being a family caregiver is a big job! This is true whether you are a "live with your your elderly parents" caregiver or whether you are caring from "long-distance." The first step is to find resources that might help you, your brother and hour dad get answers now and help you all to "keep caring" if your dad's situation becomes more challenging.

The first stop for information about resources that can help is your local Area Agency on Aging serving the county where you and/or your dad live. These organizations know how to listen to seniors and their family members and can provide guidance and advice that will be of great help to you. They know about Medicare and Medicaid rules--and will explain these in a way that you will understand. You can call 1-800-677-1116 toll free to find out the phone number of your local Area Agency on Aging office. When you call the Area Agency office, ask for the person who provides "Information and Assistance" or "Help for Family Caregivers." If you make this call, I am confident that you will find friendly and helpful people.

It's important to know that Area Agencies on Aging aren't selling a particular service, "insurance plan" or other product. The information you'll receive will come from people who talk to seniors and families every day and who will provide you objective information about options.

When you talk with the folks at the Area Agency on Aging ---you should ask about services that might be available to you as a family caregiver. Of course, ask about available in-home services that may be needed for your dad now or in the future. These services are for the seniors' benefit as well as for family caregivers like your brother and you. Area Agences on Aging also have information about other residential and nursing home options that are available where your dad lives. They would also be able to guide your family to resources helpful for caring for your dad at home.

It might be helpful to know that in many places, in-home services are available on a "cost share" basis and the costs of needed services are based on the seniors' income or assets. If your dad is very low income and has significant needs that puts him at risk of going to a nursing facility, you should ask the Area Agency on Aging folks if the state where your dad lives has something called a "Medicaid waiver." If the state has a Medicaid program that covers individuals with disabilities and or frail elders, there may be Medicaid funding to pay toward in-home care. State governments are coming to realize the importance of having in-home services--with the involvement and support of family caregivers--as an option in the funding of services needed by frail older Americans.

Medicare is insurance designed to pay for acute illnesses and also a limited amount for rehabilitation after an acute health episode. Yes, there is a hospice benefit under Medicare. As you probably know, this service is available under Medicare as deemed "medically necessary" by a physician and does not pay for "non-medical" services that your dad probably needs in order to "get along" at home.

Finding a attorney who specializes in public benefit or family law might also be advisable. Your parent, you and other family members will want to figure out arrangements for "powers of attorney" and have a "living will" in place --and throughly discussed -- before another emergency arises. Your Area Agency on Aging would have information about these matters. Usually the Area Agency has "boiler plate" versions of these types of documents to get conversations in this sensitive area started. If your dad is low-income, the Area Agency may know of legal services that can help deal with these kinds of legal matters..

If you call the Area Agency on Aging and like the help that you receive, let your county elected officials know and tell your members of Congress. Area Agencies don't have big budgets--in fact appropriations for most services funded under the Older Americans Act have not increased significantly in 25 years! You will not be charged for the information you receive, however, any financial contribution you or your family might make for the time and assistance devoted to your situation would be very welcomed--and would go toward helping more of your older friends and neighbors and their caregivers.

I hope this helps. Thanks for a great question and for caring! Best wishes to your dad--and to all of those caring for him in your family!

Medicare pays for people to come to the house also. I believe they are called Home attendants. Based on your fathers condition they decide whether you need a trained nurse or it can just be a person who can wash him, cook for him and etc., You should check with your local social security office and they will let you know how to organize for more help.

Unfortunately, no. If he has limited finances, you may be able to go through medicaid or your state. If he has resources such as money, etc., you will have to pay. After a hospital stay (3 days) the dr. can order a nurse to come for awhile but she only makes visits to check on blood pressure or whatever is wrong. Short visits. No cleaning or cooking. There are organizations that help with caregiving but don't know what your city offers. Best to look for senior organizations and call them for info. Good luck. Been through it, been there. Not a good situation and hard on the family. I was the only child. But, somehow, you get through it.

For medicare to pay for a hme health attendant he has to require a "skill" from a nurse. Also his D. has to order Home Health. The "skill" has to be something a nurse would do like drawing blood, monitoring him following a new medication, dressing changes. If he has no skill then home health does not apply. If he has a skill then the home health agency can send in an aide to assist with bathing and dressing and some asst. in a small area like eating. The aide only comes in 2-3 x a week unless more is needed. They are htere for about 1-2 hours only. Your dad will need to be assessed by home health to see if there is anything they can do and also toadmit him to services, then he has o be reevaluated every 90 days for continued need of services. Contact a local home health agency and they can take care of all of this for you. Unfourtunatley this is the ost home health can do but if you can you might consider a private companion. You can ask around and find a good one or you caan hire one thru an agency but these are very expensive even though they are tax decutable.