In many states, family caregivers cannot be paid to care for their loved ones, not with govt funds nor even the parents' own money.
Too often help for caregivers is funding for "resource bank" or "information." I have been at this, sole caregiver for mother with Alzheimer's, for almost eight years being paid $10 day. Deadbeat sisters throw monkey wrenches into the system, and their financial abuse caused Mom's affairs to be mangled by the Public Guardian's office. Still, they have more rights to challenge me from afar than I have to reign in their behavior.
Read some of the caregiver forums like on www.agingcare.com and you'll see how rough this can get. I do have emotional support from two nieces,and one sister who is almost sort of willing to be one day perhaps helpful. Believe me, any sign of genuine concern is like gold.
I've heard a figure of 47 million family caregivers. $102 million funding. What is this, a joke? That's enough to buy me a latte.
The words of the administration seem to be contrary to the acts of the administration. We just learned that, as of January 1, 2010, the VA (connecticut West Haven) will be cutting back its support for payment of my father's adult day care from five days to three days. My father is a 100% combat disabled vet with dementia attributed to head injuries sustained during WWII.
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Hello Eric, These are tough times for the country and particularly the unemployed. The "sandwich generation" is hurting and needs help, while perhaps half of the nation is resistant to any social programs that add expense to taxpayers. Obama-Biden are indeed brave to commit any funding to assist the middle class to alleviate some of this burden. Perhaps a generous tax credit scheme will provide the financial relief in the long run. At present, a real money investment will sure be a big help and should increase employment in the caregiving industry. Whatever goes forward, I sure hope that it is well thought out and implemented in a careful, thoughtful way, that doesn't provide any opportunity for fraud or waste. Perhaps this is "Change we can believe in." Good post! -- Joe