Hospice and additional help

Please google care.com reviews where it shows they are being sued by the Federal Trade Commission, another shows 1.2 out of 5 stars, etc etc
I interviewed local home health agencies when needing extra help for my Mom. Also asked friends if they knew anyone who worked for their relatives that could be hired privately. Both were productive.
God Bless

This site did an evaluation and rating on the company you inquire about.
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https://www.theseniorlist.com/home-care/care-com/

There is a free organization for you to use called "A Place for Mom". You may have seen their commercials on TV. They are a wealth of information and could help guide your next steps. Or you could ask your doctor, friends, or family for a recommendation for a reputable caregiver.

Re A Place for Mom, the Washington Post ran a story that said the site does not independently assess the communities it represents, and some have been found to have substandard ratings. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/05/16/place-for-mom-assisted-living-referral/) The service is financed by fees paid to the company by nursing homes, assisted-living centers and such. The referral service is free to families. My point is if you use them, please check the recommendations carefully.

Re the OP, I understand your concerns. My husband and I do have adult kids who come by occasionally, but most of the caregiving falls to him. He's tired. My concern about hiring outside help that you don't know is whether the people will be skilled and honest. I mean, several years ago I was in a hospital, and the CNA was helping me with personal care, and suddenly she was offering to go shopping for me at Target. ?? Like, no, lady. Some people may be honest and excellent, but there's always a chance that some may also be lousy caregivers and try to take advantage financially. I don't know how far outside Austin you are, but is there a way to assemble a group of friends, church members, neighbors etc. who can provide occasional respite for you? What about grocery delivery and meal-prep services? Can people do a load of laundry or run a vacuum for you? Also, ask Hospice what additional help or recommendations they can provide. I hope you can figure out a good solution. All the best to you and your husband!

My mom had dementia followed by a stroke. We needed care for her for 10 years. Our local Catholic hospital had a private visiting nurses aid agency that we used that was great until we needed to use them every day and the expense became high. Other family members knew of people who knew people and then we used other agencies, as well. Sometimes you just have to try them out and see who gives the type of care for a lived that you feel comfortable with yet is affordable for your budget. I’m in California, but in Neighbor Next Door I would see people looking for jobs as caregivers - just interview them and see if they would be a good fit.

I contacted a place called Victory in the Valley for Hospice and palliative care recommendations. VitV is a cancer support organization that provides snacks and a lounge at my cancer center. They have drinks and snacks for proplr who are having chemo. They help with providing rides and other help like caps for people with hair loss. They recommended Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, and they have a partnership with Bridges palliative care that will be out today to get me started with palliative care. They have a list of nurses and aids that will come out to help out with my care. I am not doing much spending these days just saving money. My sons will be the ones my care will fall to as I am divorced. I figure I will just pass the information on to my sons and let them decide if they want to take time off from work for my care or spend the money to hire someone from the list, I will also have these groups reach out to my sons as they have support for care givers. I know how hard this can be on us with my Whipple surgery that was really hard on me and my painful reaction to chemo. This is really difficult on family members also and I want to give my sons the information. They not only help with counselling but also training for family members for giving care. Aids will cost less than nurses and most likely will be what will be hired is they decide to. I am not sure what they have in the way of time off from the companies they work for.

If your husband qualifies for Hospice care, there are many reputable Hospice organizations in the Austin area. Referrals from your physicians, friends, a church or using sites such as a Next Door app would be a good place to start. All Hospice companies will offer a consultation to explain their services and what to expect. You can interview as many as you need to before making a decision.

@pj27393, so many great suggestsions from @ladyaceintx1 @happyjack @mnewland99 @ncteacher @stageivsurvivor and @gracect.

You might want to contact Austin Hospice https://www.hospiceaustin.org/our-services/
They offer many services including:
"Volunteers
In addition to the clinical team, Hospice Austin volunteers are available and can visit with your loved one while you have time away. Volunteers also can assist with running errands, providing transportation to appointments, and being an attentive and sympathetic listener.

Respite care
Caregiving can be exhausting. There are options available to you. Your loved one can be transferred to a nursing facility for up to five nights to provide respite should you need it. Your social worker can help provide you with the necessary steps to arrange for respite care outside of your home."

How are you doing?