Hi, my name is Debbie. My husband, Marc, is 53 with moderate to severe Alzheimer. I was at home with my kids, Marc doing great as a Microbiologist, then work not seeing what they wanted to out of Marc, MRI was misdiagnosed, moved to a contract job and then moved to a microbiologist job, based only on Marc's awesome resume. 2 moves in 5 months. We moved before Christmas and Marc was let go after Christmas. This was about 3 years ago. I never finished college.
I am working at a retail store and stressed out to the max, at this store. Marc can be alone, but we are low income and any money from his parents will be when it is a needed emergency when Marc gets worse. I need to make more money. How do I get Marc into certain programs and what type of job should I look for. I took online classes for Medical Billing and Coding, but I thought I had a year and I had 6weeks. Marc had to have 2 eye surgeries and I had to have a root canal and stuff happened and I won't be finished with my online school.
Any suggestions?
I thank you in advance for anything you can offer.
Hi Debbie,
I am very sorry that your husband has AD at a younger age 53. It might be early onset AD.
Have you thought of applying for medicaid for him? If he is out of job and has no income, for low income, you can apply for social aids such as Medi-Cal or Medicaid. Medicaid can allow you send your husband to a nursing home later when it is needed. Social Security has also some programs that you can apply for lower income. This way you get some relief as well.
As for the job, I would suggest that you keep the current job. One reason that you are stressed must be due to your caregiving of your husband. Has he tried the day care center? You can send him there in the day and he can enjoy the activities there, then you can pick him up. Also, home health care does have nurse who can come over to give him a shower everyday or twice a week, if you have the basic medical insurance such as medicaid or medical.
Certainly some on-line courses can help. Or you can go to the commuity college to learn some trade. Also there is caregiver job if you get nurse aid certificate after you take 10 classes. Things like medical assistant is good too. I hope you can find the help you need - you can also ask the local social worker to help you out regarding the job situation.
For sure, you need to get help to care for your husband in the future soon.
Hope this helps,
Nina
I was told early on that he does not qualify for Medicaid because his disability is too much. There is that fine line. But I think I will try again to see if he will now qualify. If I took a course on medical assistant and he gets medicaid, would medicaid pay me to take care of him?
Is there such a thing? I didn't realize disability kills medicaid? How about the program for disability? Contact social security to see if there is any program at all that can help you guys.
I heard about the personal caregiver. I don't think they pay for the "personal" caregiver to the family. One nurse I knew was trying to ask the home care co. if she can get paid for caring for her own husband, but she was told no. I suppose it is too biased and all that. Sorry about that. But you can work for other people - it is called certified nursing aid, CNA.
Nina