A Caregiver's Silence

Happy 73rd Anniversary to my Folks!

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 19:42:00 +0000

This Blog Has Moved

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 22:05:00 +0000

Find us at https://acaregiverssilence.wordpress.com/

Can Family Caregivers Reduce Hospital Costs? - Forbes

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 16:35:00 +0000

What are family caregivers worth? As the credit card commercial says, they are priceless. But they also have a financial value. And calculating that value is important as we consider ways to help them. For example, before Congress creates new government supports for family members who help aging parents or other relatives with disabilities, it will want to know if that assistance could reduce other government spending.There are lots of ways to figure what caregiving is worth. For example, you could calculate what it would cost if all those family caregivers were paid market rates for the personal care they provide. AARP figures the economic value of family care could be as much as $470 billion annually. Or you could try to calculate the lifetime financial sacrifice of a daughter who abandons her career to help a relative. By one estimate, the lifetime cost to a 50-something woman who quits her job to care for an aging parent can be as much $300,000 in lost wages and retirement benefits. Here is another way to measure the value of family caregiving: By providing badly needed support for relatives living at home, can the care provided by family members cut health care costs by, say, reducing emergency room visits and hospitalizations? If they could, they’d not only improve the well-being of those they are helping, but they may also save government a significant amount of health care dollars.

Can Family Caregivers Reduce Hospital Costs? - Forbes

Family Caregivers Programs and Support For Veterans

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Tue, 10 May 2016 22:38:00 +0000

Injuries incurred by service members are covered by the Veteran Administration. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

FOR CAREGIVERS

VA values your commitment as a partner in our pledge to care for those who have "borne the battle," and we have several support and service options designed with you in mind. Many programs are available both in and out of your home to help you care for the Veteran you love and for yourself.

FOR FAMILY MEMBERS

Under certain circumstances, family members of Veterans are eligible for VA health care benefits.

How To Get Paid If You're A Family Caregiver

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Tue, 10 May 2016 15:04:00 +0000

Janet Morris, Director of Bet Tzedek's Family Caregiver Program, with clients. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dear Savvy Senior,

I have been taking care of my elderly mother for nearly three years and it’s taking a huge toll on my finances. Are there any resources you know about that can help family caregivers get paid?

—Financially Exhausted

Dear Exhausted,

To get paid as a family caregiver, there are various government programs, tax breaks and family payment options that may be able to help you, depending on your mom’s financial situation. Here’s where to look for help.

State Aid
If your mom is low-income and eligible for Medicaid, you may be able to get paid a small amount by the state. In 15 states, Medicaid offers a Cash & Counseling program (see cashandcounseling.org) that provides an allowance that can be used for various services, including paying family members for care.

Many other states have similar programs for low-income seniors, even if the person receiving care doesn’t quite qualify for Medicaid. To find out about these options contact your local Medicaid office.

Veterans Aid
In some communities across the U.S., veterans who are at risk of nursing home placement can enroll in the Veteran-Directed Home and Community Based Services program that allows veterans to manage their own care, including hiring and paying their own caregivers.

Also available to wartime veterans and their spouses is a benefit called Aid and Attendance that helps pay for in-home care, as well as assisted living and nursing home care. This benefit can also be used to pay family caregivers.

To be eligible your mom must need assistance with daily living activities like bathing, dressing or going to the bathroom. And, her income must be under $13,362 as a surviving spouse — minus medical and long-term care expenses. If your mom is a single veteran, her income must be below $20,795 to be eligible. Her assets must also be less than $80,000, excluding her home and car.

To learn more see va.gov/geriatrics, or contact your regional VA office, or your local veterans service organization. For contact information, call 800-827-1000.

Tax Breaks
Uncle Sam may also be able to help if you pay at least half of your mom’s yearly expenses, and her annual income was below $3,900 in 2013 (not counting Social Security). If so, you can claim her as a dependent on your taxes, and reduce your taxable income by $3,900. See IRS Publication 501 (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p501.pdf) or call the IRS help-line at 800-829-1040 for information.

If you can’t claim your mom as a dependent, you may still be able to get a tax break if you’re paying at least half her living expenses including her medical and long-term care costs, and they exceed 10 percent (or 7.5 percent if you’re 65 or over) of your adjusted gross income. You can include your own medical expenses in calculating the total. See the IRS publication 502 (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf) for details.

Family Payments
If your mom doesn’t financially qualify for the government aid or the tax breaks, can she afford to pay you herself or do you have any siblings that would be willing to chip in? After all, if your mom had to pay for home care services, the costs would be anywhere between $12 and $25 per hour.

If she agrees to pay you, it’s best that you or an attorney draft a short written contract detailing your work and payment arrangements so every one involved knows what to expect. A contract will also help avoid potential problems should your mom ever need to apply for Medicaid for nursing home care.

Another payment option to consider is for your mom to adjust her will, so you receive a larger portion of her estate for providing her care. But to avoid conflict, be sure all family members are aware and in agreement.

Also, check to see if your mom has any long-term care insurance that covers in-home care. If she does, in some cases those benefits may be used to pay you.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Once Again I Find Myself Doing This With Zero Help

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 12:37:00 +0000

Pop will have been gone five years this April 14th and I find myself once again isolated, alone, drained, sleep deprived, lonley, malnourished, depressed, and boxed into a corner as the sole 24/7 caregiver to my nearly 30 year best friend, boss, roommate, running buddy Kjell who's as hard case died in the wool, constitutionally incapable, jay walking, bull headed, stinking drunk that ever walked the earth with no redeeming or even barely likeable qualities left. Thats me and him there to the left on the day about 15 years ago after I kicked a US Prosecuter's ass up and down the block in Federal Court while I went pro per not only under oath but also mirandized and facing a federal prison term myself if that prick of a dumbass rookie schmuck prick of an Assistant US Attorney had his way as he grilled me all day on the stand. The hardest day of my life. My pal here...was there for me...in the gallery behind said prickface Assistant US Attorney giving me a tug of the ear or a brush of his hair or gentle cough now and then that got me through that ordeal and I walked out of that US Federal Courthouse with my head held high a free man. So how can I not care for the rotten old bastard now when his lady of 20 years and his entire family and all of his friends have washed their hands of him and left him for dead?

Is Your Caregiver A Family Member?

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 17:56:00 +0000

Is your caregiver a family member? (via Repost Video News)

Is your caregiver a family member?

Mesothelioma Center's Asbestos.com Website

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 09:49:00 +0000

Asbestos fibres - a single fibre is believed to cause mesothelioma (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Asbestos.com is a website and advocacy group that helps the victims of asbestos exposure and their loved ones. We connect our visitors with the resources they need to understand and fight asbestos-related disease, all at no cost. We research the latest data about asbestos and asbestos-related diseases to ensure an accurate, up-to-date site, and we maintain relationships with doctors and cancer centers to promote patient access to cutting-edge treatment.

Our free services include: providing literature on asbestos and related diseases; providing access to our on-staff nurse; matching patients up with qualified doctors in their area; managing a support group for asbestos victims and their families; helping veterans receive VA benefits for asbestos diseases; educating the public about Social Security disability and legal options; and much more.

Asbestos.com is part of the mesothelioma community, which has a blend of for-profit and not-for-profit websites and companies occupying it. We are a for-profit company. The site is owned by AMAG, LLC, based in Orlando and sponsored by The Peterson Firm. We think we do good work, much like other for-profit companies: Walt Disney World, Starbucks, UPS and Whole Foods. We like the fact that we're a business because we feel it gives us more opportunities to help people. Although we do understand the stigma that sometimes comes with a for-profit company, we are proud of the work we do and we trust the feedback of our users.

US Has the World’s Least Flexible Workplaces

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 09:45:00 +0000

Family Values? US Has the World’s Least Flexible Workplaces (via Moyers & Company)

The phrase “family values” has become a proxy for a suite of policy preferences championed by the religious right. But what would a set of policies that truly reflected the value of American families look like? A good place to begin in creating…

Military Veterans as Nannies

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 05:51:00 +0000

When it made the news that a nanny agency specializing in placing military veterans as caregivers was opening up, there was a buzz of concern and interest amongst those in the nanny industry. To learn more about the Tactical Nannies program I reached out to Jonathan Gilliam, president and CEO of United States Continued Service, the parent company of Tactical Nannies. Here’s what he had to share.

eNannySource: I think when people first hear that military veterans are being sought out to provide nanny care they wonder two things: first, how do you reconcile the idea of being a combat veteran with a nurturing caregiver, and second, what about post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental issues?

Jonathan: I understand both of those concerns, and I think most people’s perception of the military is off the mark is many ways. With respect to reconciling a trained, military combat veteran, it is important to note the core elements that drive a person, male or female, to enter into military service. Those core elements are love of their fellow citizens and a desire to protect our freedoms and rights. The key words here are love and protect. Under the body armor and ammunitions is a human being who is serving at a level of selflessness that most people will never know without being in the military. This is easily translated into caring for children and protecting a family/home. Our pilot program includes several personality screening practices. Not only am I a former Navy SEAL, but I also served as a special agent in New York for eight years. I am associating with other agents to complete a background screening that gives us a complete picture of the personality and motivation of our nanny candidates, as well as making sure the underlying love and protective nature is at the forefront. I know it is unusual hearing those words from a trained warrior, but it is actually the basis for what we do.

PTSD is, as you pointed out, a major concern for many people. We understand that. In our screening process we will pay close attention to indicators of PTSD. However, the sheer numbers of veterans returning from duty overseas does not lend itself to an overwhelming percentage of PTSD sufferers. There just isn’t a lot of PTSD. What we see more often is the need for a “debrief” or time-out after returning from overseas. The awareness is so heightened in a war environment, that when you return, it takes time to turn it down. Reactions are quicker, attitudes are more assertive. But it is not PTSD the majority of the time.

eNannySource: You mentioned people’s views of the military are off the mark. Can you elaborate on what that means?

Jonathan: Unfortunately, many people in the American public see young enlisted people as dropouts that couldn’t make it anywhere else. This couldn’t be further from the truth in most cases. A high percentage of young people entering into military service have a drive to serve and a determination to succeed that cannot be met through college. Many of these individuals do in fact finish college after an initial tour of duty. Some take online classes, some night school and others transfer into the Reserves or National Guard and attend full time. Regardless, within two to four years of their entry into service, these young people have developed a core set of values and skills that propel them forward in life. Learning how to operate using Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and how to function in a team environment, it is driven into everyone that serves that you are a leader no matter what rank you hold. This part of the training is widely unknown or understood by the majority of employers and the American public itself.

It never goes away...

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 22:10:00 +0000

Posted on Record For Pop

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 18:17:00 +0000

ROCHESTER, NY - NOVEMBER 3: The Eastman Kodak Co. corporate headquarters is seen November 3, 2011, in Rochester, New York. Kodak announced a loss of $222 million in the third quarter and has warned it's survival hangs on the sale of digital-imaging patents or raising money by selling debts. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

From a conversation on Facebook:

As posted on the wall of the Eastman Kodak Company: "My father worked for Kodak for 36 years and authored over 200 US Patents during that time which he sold to the company for $1.00 with the understanding that he would get compensated for his efforts in the form of medical and retirement benefits and you bastards dare give yourselves huge bonuses then cut the medical and retirement benefits from his wife of 69 years, my mother? Shame on you and start running you pricks!"

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Nicole Taylor and Kathy Miller Chevalier like this.
Ron Darling-Storyteller That's what happens when a company says...oh...digital is just a fad...we'll stay in the film business...

2 hours ago · Like · 1
Kevin Patrick Reynolds They have no shame...my partents are in their late 80's and must now shop for their own health insurance.

about an hour ago · Like
Ron Darling-Storyteller Who has no shame?....where in the contract we signed to live here...oh wait we signed no contract....but where does it say everything is a guarantee? I ran a very successful business for nearly 30 years...had lots of savings and was making a good six ...See More

38 minutes ago · Like
Stephen G. Barr Well, my Pop was a company man and worked in the chem labs in Bldg. 59 for many years and authored over 200 of Kodak's patents which were up for sale not long ago, eventually became head of all of the research labs within Kodak Park then was promoted to be Kodak's Director of Information Services worldwide and was responsible for connecting all of Kodak's research libraries via this new thing called the internet before he retired with 36 LOYAL years of service. He and his then lab partner (Dr. Phil Land) invented and patented instant photography process together....Pop sold his rights to Kodak for a buck and Phil left and sold his rights to a little unknown startup called Poloroid. Kodak sat on that patent and didn't use it until long after Poloroid made hundreds of millions off of it. The least they could do is keep his widow supplied with an insurance premium before giving themselves up to 2 million in bonuses for steering a ghost ship into dry dock. Kodak management made several huge mistakes over the years, instant photography, film sales lost to Fugi, crappy printers and the death shot of digital technology which they owned long before anyone else did but again sat on their own technology too long in greed and arrogance which led to their ultimate demise. The three former Presidents I believe made the worst judgement errors were Lou Eilers, Jerry Zornow and Jack Thomas but they reported to an even more arrogant Board of Directors. My Mom is ok financially and now 85 and Pop is now 18 months passed and has his original patents in leather binders which I will pass down to my son as a symbol of days gone by and more than that a way of life that has left us when men worked for decades and were "company" men and the company left them with enough to carry them out the door for their valuable service to the cause. Pop's buried just a mile or so north of old building 59 in Holy Sepulchre Cemetary and he'd want me to speak up for him on this I'm very sure so I did. Have there been bigger crimes against humanity? Sure, but not against the life's work of a man who also discovered the cure for leprosy in 1947, could have sold his work to Poloroid like his partner did but chose to be loyal to the company that now spits on his grave and slaps his widow. It's a sad state of affairs we are in at this point indeed.

Just now able to return 18 months almost since he passed....

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 08:48:00 +0000

Just a bookmark to mark the first time I've been able to return here...I now am able to go about a week at a time without thinking of him...but then I feel guilty as if I have abandoned his memory or whatever BS I run through my own head...I miss my Pop....and I'm tearing up so that's enough for today.

It’s time for a new solution. It’s time for Caregiver Village.

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:00:00 +0000

The societal problem:

Despite millions of government dollars and hundreds of dedicated websites, family caregivers are in trouble. With over 60 million family caregivers in the U.S. alone, many caregivers become sick (with nearly twice the rate of chronic illnesses as their non-caregiving peers); they’re depressed (40-70% report significant feelings of depression), they face a significantly increased risk of stroke, and they’re frustrated, unable to find resources or solutions they need to help with the enormous burden thrust upon them. They’re also costly to our economy accounting for an estimated $33.6 billion in lost productivity.

The caregiver’s problem:

Family caregivers are exhausted, stressed to the point of illness and frustrated by their isolation.Caregiver Village’s virtual village creates a close knit community where caregivers can discover a sense of deep personal satisfaction – and escape – from the hard, intense work of family caregiving; while simultaneously learning how to handle their stress and building online connections with people in exactly the same situation as them.

It’s time for a new solution. It’s time for Caregiver Village.

An escape from worries; an innovative way to gain new skills.Games and episodic TV works because they provide escape. Caregiver Village engages caregivers for hours as they play an episodic game while they engage and learn. They return to play the next episode deepening their engagement and learning.
Real support and connections. Caregivers need support. Caregiver Village creates an online ‘village’ environment where caregivers engage for hours as they interact with others while they and learn and escape. People connect based on common needs and interests in a place that becomes their own village of support and encouragement.
The power of sharing. Caregivers need to share their story with others. Caregiver Village gives caregivers a means to share their story through the creation of an online journal, guided by supportive experts and well know real life authors. These authors host discussion groups and interact with village members. They help them share their own stories and they discuss topics of community interest.
A treasure trove of resources. While Caregiver Village is an escape and outlet for stress, it is also packed full of valuable resources for caregivers. Over 1,000 resources, including courses, tip sheets, caregiving products and hundreds of links to disease specific resources are personalized to their needs.
Advanced technology. Caregiver Village is not just a website. It is a technologically advanced product that uses the most modern technologies available - mobile technology, gamification, social networking, social media, web based course delivery and other advanced technologies - to solve one of the country’s most desperate problems.

Play the Caregiver Village Game. Change your Life.

It’s time to change this description of the family caregiver.

Family caregivers who are exhausted, stressed to the point of illness and frustrated may find it hard to believe that they can play a game and change their lives. But Caregiver Village’s virtual world of the website and the game, Village Chronicles, are designed to create a place where caregivers can discover a sense of deep personal satisfaction – and fun – from the hard, intense work of family caregiving.

Caregiver Village is built around solid concepts of game success: key design concepts that make games, especially web games with virtual communities, engaging and rewarding to billions of people today, including women (who compose about 40% of all gamers) and older adults (one out of four gamers today is over 50).

It’s a game – its fun. Games work because they’re fun. They’re fun because they require focus and effort and result in achievements that are specific and tangible. The Village Chronicles virtual game is built to be fun. It requires focus, it takes effort to solve the puzzles (and the ultimate mystery of the story that continues episode to episode), and achievements are earned along the way. It’s a uniquely powerful way for family caregivers to learn better self-care, stress management skills and positive attitudes about their caregiving work.
It builds community. Linking with other people helps us understand and achieve things we couldn’t possibly realize alone, in a way that fills a deep human need for connection and companionship. In Caregiver Village, neighbors help each other by providing advice, recommending resources and offering crucial words of encouragement and support. Groups – called “book clubs” in Village terms – are led by experts who can help guide, coach and nurture the strength of the individual and the group. It’s just more fun to be a part of a team.
It facilitates sharing and affirms choice. In Caregiver Village neighbors use a time-tested technique of journaling their experience to reinforce the “choice” aspect of their work. It’s a way to express emotions, process difficult experiences and gain deeper understanding into the complex and challenging life of a caregiver, arriving at a re-affirmation of the choice involved in their work. Caregiver Village neighbors may choose to display this choice, too, in the form of a badge that proclaims, “I’m a Proud Family Caregiver – my time, my choice, my gift.”
It’s loaded with tools. Mastering really challenging games often means acquiring an array of tools to help you succeed. For caregivers, tools can help them succeed, as well. Tools provided in Caregiver Village include information about books, organizations, products and services that can offer tangible support. It includes exclusive Caregiver Village tip sheets and online training courses that offer tricks and tips from the experts who have mastered the “game” of caregiving.
Family caregivers provide well over 90% of all caregiving services in the U.S. today. It’s time to break the pattern of stress, sickness, despair and dysfunction that represents family caregiving today. It’s time, with Caregiver Village, to change the lives of family caregivers.

Join Caregiver Village and be a part of something BIG!

Goodbye Pop....our bond is stronger than our bodies and forever!!

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Wed, 11 May 2011 10:16:00 +0000

Thank You!

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Wed, 11 May 2011 10:08:00 +0000

On behalf of the family I'd like to thank those folks who have sent condolences and or attended Pop's memorial service this past weekend. Your kind words and support really helped us all get through this loss. I'd also like to say I tried my best to deliver a proper eulogy on Saturday but as those of you who were there saw my emotions got the best of me and I couldn't get through my prepared eulogy so I will type it up and post it as the closing entry on my blog, A Caregiver's Silence which you can read here:

http://www.caregiverssilence.blogspot.com

Again, for all of the family I say thank you and love you all!

I Dedicate this song to Pop on his Journey

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 22:07:00 +0000

Fearless by Pink Floyd

You say the hill's too steep to climb

Climb it.

You say you'd like to see me try

Climbing.

You pick the place and I'll choose the time

And I'll climb

That hill in my own way.

Just wait a while for the right day.

And as I rise above the tree lines and the clouds

I look down, hearing the sound of the things you've said today.

Fearlessly the idiot faced the crowd

Smiling.

Merciless the magistrate turns 'round

Frowning.

And who's the fool who wears the crown?

No Doubt,

in your own way

And every day is the right day

And as you rise above the fear-lines in his brow

You look down, hearing the sound of the faces in the crowd

Slideshow Dedicated to Pop

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 07:03:00 +0000

The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls ~ Longfellow

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 17:44:00 +0000

The tide rises, the tide falls,
The twilight darkens, the curlew calls;
Along the sea-sands damp and brown
The traveler hastens toward the town,
And the tide rises, the tide falls.

Darkness settles on roofs and walls,
But the sea, the sea in darkness calls;
The little waves, with their soft, white hands
Efface the footprints in the sands,
And the tide rises, the tide falls.

The morning breaks; the steeds in their stalls
Stamp and neigh, as the hostler calls;
The day returns, but nevermore
Returns the traveler to the shore.
And the tide rises, the tide falls.

Pop would have liked this.....

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:14:00 +0000

He passed quietly in his sleep yesterday during his afternoon shortly after Mom was up to the hospice to feed him his lunch...more in a day or so but I wanted to mark the occasion and play this in loving memory of Pop....Rest in Peace....Amen.

Happy Birthday Pop!

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 13:10:00 +0000

Yesterday on 3/21/11 my father, Charles Robert Barr, Sr. celebrated his 89th Birthday in a nursing home in our hometown of Rochester, NY while once again being placed on "hospice" status which means according to all indications and Dr's reports he has less than 6 months to live and the insurance kicks in additional funding for private nursing staff to spend time with him to relieve the regular staff . The monthly cost for his care is now $15,000 including medications

Nine years later....

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 08:44:00 +0000

I sit naked in a hotel room thinking about Pop....how I haven't spoken or written him since the day he left AZ over 3 years ago after such a close 6.5 years of togetherness. I remember the first month after he came home and I slept at his feet and counted between his apnea gasps and it is so long ago but he still is fighting every gasp every second in a nursing home with dementia and I remember promising him man to man our first conversation the day I flew to his side that I would never, ever leave his side until I kissed his eyes shut and sent him to his Heaven loved, respected and triumphed and how I've failed in that promise....self loathing is for pussies...I carry utter failure and disgust with me every day he continues to hang on waiting for the last kiss....which I will deliver on his 89th Birthday on 3/21 then I will die a man of honor no matter what else I have done in my life.

He's the one that taught me that....

Stephen G. Barr's Birthday Wish | Causes Birthday Wish

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 18:33:00 +0000

Stephen G. Barr's Birthday Wish | Causes Birthday Wish

He's holding on ...

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:24:00 +0000

My sister just called to tell me Pop's in the hospital with what was first thought to be a heart attack but the chest pain is from his lungs being so filled with fluid that it's putting pressure on his heart, He's now 88 and has been totally bed ridden for two years and it's been almost 8 years since his first stroke. This is happening at the worst time for me with the new jobs, moving into the new condo with Lisa and more but I have had an undeniable feeling that he's hanging on until I go back and see him one last time...making arrangements to fly back asap...I'm coming Pop!

Compensating a Family Caregiver

noreply@blogger.com (sgb media group) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:48:00 +0000

Given the still-fragile economy, a growing number of families are compensating relatives who serve as caregivers to elders, elder-law attorneys say.

But to avoid stoking family tensions or running afoul of Medicaid eligibility requirements, it's important to draft a formal employment agreement--and disclose the arrangement to the entire family.

According to a recent report by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, about 43.5 million Americans look after someone age 50 or older, up 28% from 2004. While no one tracks how many are paid, elder-law attorneys say the numbers are rising.

Howard S. Krooks, an elder-law attorney who practices in Boca Raton, Fla., and Rye Brook, N.Y., says nearly all his clients who serve as caregivers are compensated. Such cases currently comprise about 20% of his workload, a figure that has doubled since before the recession. "When people are out of work," he says, "they are more likely to ask for payment."

A Caregiver's Silence

Happy 73rd Anniversary to my Folks!

This Blog Has Moved

Can Family Caregivers Reduce Hospital Costs? - Forbes

Family Caregivers Programs and Support For Veterans

FOR CAREGIVERS

FOR FAMILY MEMBERS

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It never goes away...

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Just now able to return 18 months almost since he passed....

It’s time for a new solution. It’s time for Caregiver Village.

It’s time for a new solution. It’s time for Caregiver Village.

Play the Caregiver Village Game. Change your Life.

Join Caregiver Village and be a part of something BIG!

Goodbye Pop....our bond is stronger than our bodies and forever!!

Thank You!

I Dedicate this song to Pop on his Journey

Slideshow Dedicated to Pop

The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls ~ Longfellow

Pop would have liked this.....

Happy Birthday Pop!

Nine years later....

Stephen G. Barr's Birthday Wish | Causes Birthday Wish

He's holding on ...

Compensating a Family Caregiver