Re: Tough situations...

[Guest guest]

Hey Holly!

Where exactly are you from? Here in Wisconsin people with disabilities

get most of their aid from the county they are from. When my mom

decided to go back to work when I was 12, I needed someone to meet me

at my house after I got home from school to help me go to the bathroom

and put on my BiPap. My parents contacted our county court house and

they directed us to my county social worker. She helped with finding a

local home health care agency. Payment is covered through MedicAid.

Now that I'm away from home at school, I have two additional agencies.

One company, Society's Assets, does my cares during the day. The

second, Country Nurses, provides me with two turns during the middle

of the night. SA is covered by MedicAid, while CN is paid for using

KIP hours. KIP hours are provided by your county and each client is

alotted a certain amount per month based on your individual needs.

While at school I get 5 shifts a day. I get an hour and a half for my

" get up " shift, where I shower and do whatever I need to get ready for

the day. I then get another hour and a half for my lunch shift. During

this my aide makes or picks up food, feeds me, takes me to the

bathroom (if needed), and does some " light housekeeping " if necessary.

My " mid-day " shift is a half-hour long. This is so I can toilet and

put on my BiPap (which I then have taken off an hour later at my

supper shift). And so on...

If you have any questions, feel free to email me. Maybe I can find out

more info.

[Guest guest]

Holly,

We live in Wisconsin, so maybe my advice is useless...where do you live?

anyway, for beck, we used multiple avenues to find caregivers. Do you have a

physical therapist? Rehab doctor? anything remotely similar?? They should

have access to available resources in your area--I would contact them and see

if they can help first. You could also search online for home health care in

your area. (but if you use an agency, you might want to make it clear that

you must screen all candidates first) In WI we have resources for home

care...not saying they are all that great, but they're there. This is actually

a

huge problem that beck was trying to change for the better.

beck also would write up her own personal ad and distribute it only where

she wanted to. for example, I work in research where there are a lot of med

students...these students are ideal candidates. they care and want to learn.

So, I would distribute her ad for her. (often in email) Maybe you could

contact your local university? Nursing programs or med or even pre-med

students

might be a little less scary than who might show up from an ad in the new

spaper. Also, it's a lot cheaper here to hire on your own rather than go

through an agency.

I just received an ad from another young woman in madison with SMA who is

looking for help...if you want to see a copy, just send me an email:

_tstefonek@..._ (mailto:tstefonek@...)

I wish you luck...I would make sure you're never alone with a caregiver the

first few visits. and be very picky.

tj

In a message dated 12/28/2006 8:52:20 P.M. Central Standard Time,

hollyrp@... writes:

Hey all,

I was wondering if you all would care to share about your personal care

attendant arrangements. I'm interesting in knowing how you fund paying for

care,

how you hire, what all your attendants do for you, how many you have, pretty

much everything.

My parents have always insisted on being my primary caregivers, and they're

aging. My dad is pretty sick right now. I know it is partly...maybe

mostly...my fault that I don't have a backup plan. It's just the way things

have

always been done here, families take care of their members, and going against

that

traditional southern mindset is a lot harder than it would seem.

At any rate, I could need help in a flash at any given moment right now.

I've searched and searched for available resources. Since I work, I don't get

any government benefits. I don't make a ton of money, and by the time I pay

bills, there's not much left. I am totally at a loss as to what to do.

I am in a rocky situation. I just don't know what I can do.

I would love all the advice I can get. What does a girl do in a situation

like this?

Blessings,

Holly