One out of six family caregivers experiences financial strain when caring for an aging family member. The more intensive the level of care and the younger the caregiver, the worse the financial stress is.
Why is that? If you have a parent with heart disease, it’s hard to go to work at all. Your mom or dad reaches a point where leaving them alone isn’t an option. The risk of dizziness or breathlessness leading to a fall is too significant.
You can’t bring your parent to work, so you either quit your job or find someone else to help out. Many family carers leave jobs or reduce work hours, leading to money problems.
What if you could care for your parents and get paid? It can be a viable option. Here are five ways to do it.
Talk to Your Human Resources Department
See if your employer offers paid leave for family caregivers. Not every company does, but some may have options available. It benefits your company to keep you on staff while you take a break from work to care for your mom or dad.
Often, paid leave only covers a few months, but it gives you time to research other options. It’s worth it if it’s an option.
Embrace Online Gig Work
Gig work is one way to bring in income while caring for an aging parent. It can be steady work if you put in the work. Companies look for people who can transcribe recordings, write product descriptions, and complete online research.
Look for Grants
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living provides grants through The National Family Caregiver Support Program. There are criteria to meet, but you might qualify. Ask your local Agency on Aging to see if anything is available in your area.
See If Your Mom and Dad Have Long-Term Care Insurance Policies
Do your parents have long-term care insurance? If they do, you might be able to provide their care and get paid through that policy. The policy would need to have a provision allowing family members to be the caregiver. Ask and see if it’s an option.
Have Your Parents Hire You
How much are your parents planning to pay for their in-home care needs? Have you considered having them pay you? That’s one way to get paid while helping your parents with activities of daily living.
What if they have a limited income and don’t have the money to pay you? They’re not out of luck. Consumer Directed Services is a program for qualifying Missouri residents. It allows your mom and dad to pay for a caregiver of their choice, including most family members. Learn more about Consumer Directed Services by talking to a specialist.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering CDS (Consumer Directed Services) in Maryland Heights, MO please contact the caring staff at Home Care MO today. (314) 501-5330
We offer consumer directed services (CDS) in St. Louis County, St. Louis City and St. Charles, as well as Crawford, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Montgomery, Pike, St. Francois, Ste Genevieve, Warren and Washington Counties.
Sources:
https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/ppi/2021/05/caregiving-in-the-united-states-50-plus.doi.10.26419-2Fppi.00103.022.pdf
Home Care MO was established by veteran home care agency owners. Home Care MO is a home care agency that works with Missouri’s Consumer Directed Services (CDS) program. CDS is a Medicaid-funded program that enables you to hire the person of your choice to help with your care. This caregiver is also called a personal care attendant (PCA).
- Rules Family Members Need to Keep in Mind When Getting Paid to Help a Parent - August 2, 2022
- Points to Consider Before Being Paid to Provide Your Dad’s Care - July 18, 2022
- How Do You Apply to Be a Paid Family Caregiver? - July 5, 2022
