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Getting Paid as a Family Caregiver

Donna Nichols • May 3, 2021

When you are caring for an older adult, it can become very expensive.

There are so many out-of-pocket expenses for such things as medical supplies, prescription drug copays, home health care , and many more.

Some people had to leave their jobs or cut their hours to care for their loved ones.

What if you could get paid as a caregiver?

Getting paid as a family caregiver

It is possible ; there are government programs that exist to help those caring for an older person. They are not available everywhere and not everyone qualifies, but you may qualify, so it’s worth checking into.

Medicaid Programs

There are Medicaid programs that give money to seniors to hire an in-home caregiver. The caregiver could be a family member or friend; it doesn’t have to be a professional.

Florida has its own eligibility requirements, as does each state, they also all have different names for the program.

If the senior is accepted into the program, the amount of money they receive will depend on an assessment of need and the average wage for home health care aides. You have to apply for this through your local Medicaid office.

State Programs

Some states have programs that pay caregivers for those who don’t qualify for Medicaid or for those with specific needs, such as traumatic brain injuries. To find out if your loved one qualifies, check with the local Medicaid office or department of health.

You can find out all about Medicaid and ask questions on the AHCA website, by following this link.

Veterans Programs

There are also programs available through the Veterans Department.

If you are a Veteran or the spouse of a deceased veteran you may be entitled to money you don’t even know about for your care.

One program is called Veteran directed home and community-based services and it helps Veterans of any age who are at risk of institutional placement to continue to live in their own homes.

The Veteran chooses the services that best meets their needs and they can hire in-home health care whether it be a company or a family member.

The other program offered through the VA is called aid and attendance .

Veterans, who are eligible for a VA pension and need home health care or assisted living, may be able to receive additional benefits on top of the monthly pension benefit.

These monies are paid directly to the senior and they are able to pay whomever they choose, whether it be a family member assisting them, a home health company, or an assisted living community.

So, there is help out there to get you paid as being a caregiver, please try not to stress over money.

Caregiving is hard enough on you, stressing over money will only make your stress level increase.

So, take a deep breath and remember Assisted Living Made Simple has your back!!

If you need help or encouragement as a Caregiver give us a call at  386-847-2322  or check out our  Caregiver Support Group. Our  Senior Advisors  are here to walk with you through this journey.

Make Valentine’s Day Special for Seniors

By Donna Nichols • February 5, 2025
Valentine’s Day tends to zero in on romantic love, but what about our seniors? They too often get forgotten. We have some ways to make Valentine’s Day special for them too. Spend the day with your loved one. Spending quality time with a loved one is more important to a senior than anything else. There is no greater gift than time and please make sure you have enough, so you are not rushed. Do your elderly loved one have a favorite meal? Perhaps you can prepare it for them, or if they are able, you can prepare it together. How fun would that be for you both? Be sure to discuss the enjoyment it brought you while you are sharing the meal together. How about a game of name that love song? You could prepare a playlist of love songs from the generation and play them to see how many they get correct. Or, if you can sing, you can sing some for them and see if they can recollect them. Take some time for reminiscing, go through old photo albums, or ask about old times. Ask them about when you were young and what trouble you caused; this will give you all something to laugh (or cry) about. Has your loved one been cooped up all winter? Take them out for a nice lunch, or weather permitting, a picnic in the park. Go for coffee and a donut, then head out to see a movie. Make a “date” of it. Maybe your senior is into crafts. You can design special Valentine’s Day cards for other family members. This way your senior can express their love for them and send it to them in their own unique way. You can create other greeting cards as well. Bake some special treats together. Does your senior have some favorite cookies or cake? You could bake it together, or you can bake it for them. Then you can enjoy it after you have the meal you prepared together. Yummy, delicious!! You can watch some romantic movies together if they prefer to stay in the house or the weather isn’t so good. If they like to color, you can buy them some of those large coloring books and you can color together. Don’t forget the decorations and the flowers! Make the house or apartment as festive as possible. Even if they live in as assisted living community, you can still decorate their room to the nines! Make it as festive as possible! If you live in another state or can’t be close to your senior for Valentine’s Day, how about sending them a specially crafted care package. You can hand make some gifts, add some photos of family and friends, and send a personally recorded message. You can bake some homemade treats and incorporate some things that are of personal interest to them. This will show how much you care for them and make their Valentine’s Day extra special even if you can’t be with them.  There are so many ways to make Valentine’s Day special for seniors. Let’s not forget about them; make sure to show them they are so loved too!

February is National Heart Month

By Donna Nichols • February 4, 2025
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Hydration Tips for the Winter

By Donna Nichols • January 8, 2025
I’ve written many blogs about the importance of staying hydrated in the summer, but did you know it’s just as important to stay hydrated in the winter months? I’ve shared some important tips on how to stay hydrated in the winter and why. Cold, dry air can dehydrate you easily and quickly. Even if you don’t feel thirsty. Proper hydration can help regulate your body temperature, maintain healthy organ function, and prevent fatigue, dry skin, and headaches. In the colder months, you do not feel thirsty, that’s why it’s so important to make sure you drink plenty of water. Why is winter hydration so important? Colder air tends to be drier causing moisture to evaporate through your breathing which can cause dehydration. In colder weather, you may not feel as thirsty, causing you to become dehydrated quickly. Also, wearing more clothing traps sweat inside your clothing causing more fluid loss. What are some of the benefits of staying hydrated in the winter? • Drinking enough water helps keep your skin hydrated and prevents dryness. This will help with that dry, itchy skin feeling we all get in the winter. • Water helps your body maintain a regular core temperature. Which is so important to maintain in the winter. • Drinking plenty of water supports your immune system, which helps fight off winter colds and the flu. We all want to fight those germs off! • When you are dehydrated, you become tired easily, so drinking plenty of water helps keep your energy levels up. How do you stay hydrated in the winter? • Make sure you drink plenty of water. Set reminders if you must; you probably won’t feel as thirsty in the winter, but you need to keep drinking that water! • You don’t have to drink cold water; room temperature water works. You can also drink tea or water with lemon, as long as you’re getting your water. • If you’re going out, carry a water bottle with you to ensure you have water to drink. • Eat fruits and vegetables that contain water. Tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, watermelon, cauliflower, mushrooms, cucumber, apples, and pineapple are just a few that contain high water contents. • If you think you’re dehydrated, check your urine; if it’s a darker color, that can suggest dehydration. Urine should be a pale, yellow color. As you can see, staying hydrated in the winter is just as important as staying hydrated in the summer, if not more. In the winter you don’t realize you are thirsty therefore you tend not to drink as much water as you should. This has the potential of wreaking havoc on your body. Please make sure you drink plenty of water in the wintertime as you do in the summertime. We have rebranded our company, we are now Assisted Senior Services! Call us for ANYTHING SENIOR!! 386-847-2322!
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