Recently, Hawaii passed a law that will help reduce the burden that is often placed on family caregivers. This new piece of legislation provides individuals caring for an elderly loved one with financial assistance to make their burdens easier.
The goal is to help those that do not qualify for Medicaid, but still need help. The amount of assistance being provided will not pay for all care, but it will be a huge help to families by offsetting much of their costs. It also will help many more families to keep their loved ones at home as they age, if they wish. When it comes to health and happiness, this is also a very big thing. Hopefully, this new law will help reduce the stress and difficulty that so many family caregivers face. Not only is this likely to help the elderly individuals in need, but the families that are placed under duress, too. It can reduce the amount of tough decisions that need to be made and can keep families together longer. Hawaii’s population consists of almost 19 percent that are age 60 or older, making this a larger portion of the population than some other states currently see. Over 150,000 individuals act as unpaid family caregivers in Hawaii, according to estimates. And this number is expected to grow in the future.
There’s no doubt about the fact that it’s tough to be a family caregiver. If you’re currently providing care for a loved one, you are likely under a lot of pressure. If your state doesn’t provide any sort of financial benefits to you for being a caregiver, you will need to find other forms of help. First, you need to know what your mom or dad qualifies for. A lot of assistance programs are based on income, and thanks to the fact that seniors are on a fixed income, many qualify for Medicaid. If you’re not sure if this is right for your family, get in touch with your local Department of Social Services to see where your family falls. For many, this is a huge help by relieving some of the burden.
Not all feel comfortable using this, and not all qualify. That doesn’t mean that there are not any other support services out there. If you are still unsure, get in touch with a nearby senior care service. Like Paradise In-Home Care, many provide free consultations and can get you pointed in the right direction. And like Paradise In-Home Care, many also provide respite care, which can ease the burden that comes along with being a family caregiver. Respite care can be for just a day or a couple weeks at a time. This allows you to stay on as the primary caregiver for your family, but gives you a much needed break occasionally. If you are exhausted and burned out, you cannot provide high quality senior care to the people that you love. But a mini break can provide the rest and recuperation needed to get back in top form.
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