FAQ: Caregivers

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National

Caregiving

Caregiver Stress

Caregiver Services

Caregiver Support Groups

Financial Assistance

Financial and Estate Planning

National

Caregiving

Q: How do I know if I can care for a family member with a disability?
  • A: Identify the needs of your family member, what level of care is needed? Evaluate your abilities to do what will be required such as your time, physical and emotional caregiving needs and special or medical skills if necessary.

      Identify the needs of the family member with a disability.

      • Identify the areas in which your family member is able to care for oneself (personal hygiene, dressing, feeding etc.)
      • Evaluate your family member's care needs. Do they need ambulatory care, help with medication, meal preparation, cleaning or shopping, companion care, special care needs, etc.
      • Consider their abilities and disabilities.

      Identify what level of care they may require.

      • Skilled nurse, personal care, companion care or home care

      Now consider your own abilities.

      • Be realistic.
      • What level of care will you be able to handle physically and emotionally.
      • At which level will you require someone else to assist.

Q: What devices will I need that will help me provide care?
  • A: Depending on the needs of the family member with a disability some of the following equipment may be necessary.

    • Adaptive equipment for mobility.
    • Adaptive equipment for using the telephone.
    • Toileting equipment.
    • Hospital bed or adaptive equipment for the bed.
    • Installation of special adaptive equipment for the home for the bedroom, the bath/shower or kitchen.
    • Medical equipment.

Caregiver Stress

Q: How can I learn more about caregiver stress? What should I look for to determine if caregiving is affecting my health or the person for which I give care?
  • A: The US Department of Health and Human Services Womenshealth.gov offers a Frequently Asked Questions section that addresses Caregiver Stress, what is caregiver stress, how it can affect your health, signs of too much stress, how to prevent or relieve stress, and how to find caregiving services in the community. For more information, visit this link.

Q: What can I do to prevent or relieve caregiver stress or burnout?

  • A: Know the signs of caregiver stress or burnout.
    Ask your support group, family, friends, church or disability organization for help.
    Investigate and use respite care.

Caregiver Services

Q: How can I find caregiving services in my community?
 Q: What services are available in my community to just help me take a break from caregiving?
  • A: Caregivers can use breaks to take care of personal or care business. It also helps to relieve stress and burnout. Actively seek respite services through informal resources such as family members or friends, services through church or community organizations or government agencies or companies.

Caregiver Support Groups

Q: How do I locate a caregiving support group?

Financial Assistance

Q: How will I pay for home health care and other caregiving services?

  • A: If the person with a disability is over 18 and under 59 they may qualify for coverage through government financial assistance programs. Contact your state and county health departments for these programs. Ask if any of the information is on the internet. Details of the programs may be available through your local library.

Q: What Federal Financial Assistance is available for caregiving for people with disabilities?

  • A: If the person with a disability has skilled nurse needs, they should check with Medicare and Medicaid for coverage of a home health aide. You can view information from Medicare on the internet. See the Medicare and Home Health Care guide. If you have questions, you will need to be as informed as you can before you call. Be sure to write down all of your questions so you do not miss any while you have a representative on the phone. The Medicare hotline is 1-800-638-4227. If you use a TTY/TDD, call 1-800-820-1202. If you call this number, you will be asked to leave a message. Ask your question in detail and leave your name, address and telephone number.

  • If your doctor can stipulate that a skilled nurse is required, you may be able to qualify for medicare or Medicaid coverage of a home health aide.

  • If you are on Title 19, Medicaid may cover home health aide.

  • The federal government through the Internal Revenue Service also allows Tax Benefits for the individual with disability or his or her parents. When you compute your income tax there are many allowable expenses that can be deducted from income provided you itemize deductions on Schedule A. Some of the deductible items may include:

    • Adaptive equipment for mobility or using the telephone.
    • Medical equipment.
    • Installation of special adaptive equipment for the home.
    • Payments to a special school.
    • Tax Credit for care.

    • For more information on what items you can specifically be allowed deductions, contact the "Federal Tax Information and Forms" number listed under the "Internal Revenue Service" in your telephone directory.

Financial and Estate Planning

Q: How do I structure a will and trust for my child with special needs?

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