How Can We Help Our Nation's Caregivers?
The job of caring for ailing loved ones is often daunting,
Now. Many are asking about:
An unpaid army of 44.5 million is caring for our ailing adults.
Are you prepared to be a caregiver?
"Boomers are shocked when they find our Medicare won't pay for any long-term care for chronic illness. At most Medicare may provide a skilled home health aide for a few hours a day for a limited period of time.
There are signs of progress. As baby boomers age, However, so much more needs to be done. We must design the system we want to grow old in.
Private Ore, has pioneered the first education program for family members
Caring for older adults STROKE, ALZHEIMERS, PARKINSON'S OR SIMILIAR LONG TERM CONDITIONS
Powerful Tools for Caregivers
6 weeks course teaches caregivers how to be effective in using community resources and managing their stress.
The Portland Program
Relicated in 20 States
Collaborations with community based organizations like AARP chapters and Area Agencies on aging.
Reached 15,000 family caregivers.
No one is allowed to make a financial profit from this service.
More states are looking for new ways to provide support.
Dozens of states introduced a total of 78 caregiving bills only 16 suvived the legislative process
The most popular proposals involved tax incentives.
This year (2007) have been considering bills to expand family and medical leave benefits.
California has created paid family leave insurance.
(The first such program in the Nation)
Most employees in the state can take up to six weeks' leave to take care of a seriously ill family member and receive 55% of wages.
The Federal Family Leave Act lets emloyyees take time off without fear of losing their jobs- but without pay.
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4 comments:
After my husband left the hospital I hired a prrofessional nurse to do medical procedures at home at $35 an hour.
How many people can afford to hire caregivers?
Medicare which provides basic health insurance for those 65 and older deems these duties when performed at home "custodial care" It's unpaid and unreimbursable.
My Transition to Caregiver.
When it came time for my spouse to leave the hospital. A discharge planner hands you a list of facilities that you have only have a day of two to investigate. You learn that Medicare will decress whether or not a patient qualifies
for "acute rehab" the type necessary to restore functionality.
Medicaid intened as a safety net for specific low income populations including the disabled and children will only reimburse people who have depleted their assetts
In 2006 in an attempt to control athe huge cost of health care
Congress made it harder to qualify for Medicaid's long term care by factoring t=in the value of one;s home.
"our system is set up to encourage families to take on the full resposibility for long term care and to discourage the from resorting to Medicaid
ASK THE CANDITADES TO RESPOND
the economic value of unpaid caregiving is estimated at $350 billion a year(if paid at an average of $9 a hour) As the 2008 Presidential Canditates adress the growing health care crisis, let's ask their views of these questions:
How do you propose to relieve the financial burden on America's 44.5 million family caregivers?
Do you believe there should be tax credits for elder care- just as there are for child care?
What steps can government take so the infirm need not spend down their assets fo qualify for Medicaid?
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