Help for Caregivers
By: Charlotte Ames
Updated: November 27, 2007
If you're one of the more than 34 million Americans who care for an aging relative, you face many issues; everything from housing to healthcare. Nearly 60 percent of caregivers work full time, in addition to looking after a family member or friend.
Predictable problems include deciding where your loved one can live, how to pay for care, and are you prepared to deal with legal questions involved with care.
Experts say the first thing to do is check whether the person needing care was ever in the military, worked in government or as a teacher. He or she could be entitled to benefits that will help pay for care. A web site www.caring.com offers insight and guidance in answering some of the questions and making the best choices.
Predictable problems include deciding where your loved one can live, how to pay for care, and are you prepared to deal with legal questions involved with care.
Experts say the first thing to do is check whether the person needing care was ever in the military, worked in government or as a teacher. He or she could be entitled to benefits that will help pay for care. A web site www.caring.com offers insight and guidance in answering some of the questions and making the best choices.
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.