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I had to quit my job to stay home with him. I need to have some kind of income. Please help

There is some financial help, if he qualifies for Medicaid. Call a local county worker to start the application process.
I, too, had to quit my job to take care of my husband at home 24/7. I was worried about the stress of dealing with no-shows if I hired home aides while I continued to work. Then, I would come home and have to take care of him overnight.

I was surprised to learn that he qualified for waivered services for traumatic brain injury, and I could be paid as his caregiver. That made up for my lost employment income. That made my decision to quit work to stay home with him easier. It's been challenging, but rewarding, and I am thankful I get to spend every day with him.
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Reply to CaringWifeAZ
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you need to get medicaid assessment and help with in home care to be full paid for with medicaid. Look into CDPAP program where you can get paid as family caregiver. That didn't work out for me since none of the private pay caregivers wanted to register at the agency that I got cleared to work and get paid. You need backups. They're not going to pay you without backups. If he has too much $$$, then private pay and also learn how to do the chores of daily caregiving. What are hubby's health issues? Can he walk? does he do the activities of daily living? Can he get to bathroom himself? Dementia? Need more information. Hugs.
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Reply to CaregiverL
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Medicare only pays for intermittant care which will not cover 35 to 40 hrs. Love when Drs prescribe something and they don't ask if its OK with the person doing the caring. My nephew has physical disabilities that keep him from being able to drive. His doctor keeps recommending a certain Hospital group for him to see. Its an hour away in a city. He can't drive and I won't drive there. Yes, there are closer options. Everytime I have to tell him the specialist needs to be closer.
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ForWhatItsWorth May 12, 2026
My PCP does this as well, in order to keep me in her network of providers owned by the same group. Maddening. I won’t drive to a city an hour away with lots of traffic when we have a specialist right in town. You have to ask, though. They act like it’s quite a big deal. But I’m on Original Medicare with Premera plan F so do a lot of self-referring, as long as I can talk the specialty into taking me as a patient. Then I call my PCP and she requests the records of my appointments to build a ‘full picture’ of me.
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This is when you start turning over ever rock for help.
Check with your local Senior Service Center or Area Agency on Aging and find out of there are any programs that might help.
If your husband is a Veteran check with the local Veterans Assistance Commission and find out if he qualifies for any benefits.
Also if you have not talked to an Elder Care Attorney to make sure all your "legal ducks are in a row" now is the time.
You may also want to consider the possibility of at some point having to apply for Medicaid.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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If your doctor “has ORDERED 35 to 40 hours of in home care”, I’d suggest you find a different doctor. In home care is not a drug that can be ordered or prescribed. Long hours of care are very expensive, and any sensible doctor should know that it’s not something you get at a pharmacy for a few dollars.
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Reply to MargaretMcKen
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Geaton777 May 9, 2026
Here in the US if there's any hope of Medicare covering any of it, yes it needs to be "prescribed" by the doctor. Medicare can cover some medical in-home services for a limited time.
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Contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA). They may connect you with:

respite grants
caregiver stipends
adult day programs
volunteer help
transportation
support groups
dementia resources
county assistance programs
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Reply to Geaton777
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I believe the only options to get paid to be your husbands caregiver is if he is a veteran, as the VA does pay for some "aid and assistance" or if your husband is on Medicaid, as they too will pay for a few hours of caregiving each week. Other than that your husband would have to pay you out of his finances, which really wouldn't make much sense.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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Yesterdayanurse 5 hours ago
To qualify for Aid and attendance, a veteran has to have served at least 2 years during war time. Or had a military career. What chaps me is that veterans who came home and made a life, a career, and saved up for retirement can’t qualify if their savings exceed a certain amount. But a veteran who didn’t. can get the maximum benefit. However, I understand all too well that many veterans simply cannot function and work in a way to save for retirement. Those deserve all the help they can get. But IMO, any veteran deserves more than our good ol government provides.
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Are you being paid to be his caregiver ?
Also have you looked into if you qualify for Medicaid ?
Hopefully others here with more knowledge about how this works will answer your question in more detail .
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Reply to waytomisery
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