Outside help

I went through this when I was trying to find help for my husband. Several agencies had a three hour minimum. Finally, I found one that had a two hour minimum. The fees depend n the type of care. Companion care--folding clothes, baking cookies, looking at photos, taking a walk--costs less than personal care. My husband is disabled and requires extensive personal care, but it isn't two hours of work. To fill the time, the caregiver does light cleaning, which is helpful. There's no getting around a two hour minimum, unfortunately. We are spending $24,000 out of pocket on outside care.

Hello @minnesota Nice to e-meet you here on Connect! I am Scott and was my wife's primary caregiver for 14 years during which at times we needed to find outside help. It was not easy in our area and I am sure what is offered and times offered vary greatly by location.

We could never find anyone who would come in for less than four hours, so I put them to good use in the days before my wife required extensive attention and extraordinary care helping with laundry, grocery shopping, and some light house cleaning. I am guessing, but when you figure travel times for a helper to get to and from home to their place of work an hour simply may be non-economical.

Are you seeking someone through agencies or independently?

What have you tried so far in your area?

Strength, courage, and peace!

Hi there harriethodgson1: Certainly can feel your need for help. I used the local senior center who offered house help and respite care so I could shop and take care of business. I had them for bathing aids three times a week for two hours which was a big help. My husband didn't want to get in the shower but would do it for the girls who took care of him. He had a great sense of humor and he grew
to look forward to seeing them and they him. It became a mutual admiration for them plus it gave him outside company. If your husband
is a veteran, there is also respite care available through VA, which I had for another four hours a week so I could get to my other office
away from home. I had this help the last 2 l/2 years of his life. He was a 12 year cancer survivor and before I could get help was on my
own with no family near by so I can appreciate your problem. It is the hardest work you will ever do in your lifetime.

Bless you and know there are those of us that support you
ozys

It is difficult to find a time schedule we want, finding someone privately is an option, has drawbacks however, will they be bonded which could be important. When my husband was on hospice, in the beginning the RN and an Aid would come two times a week at thee same time in separate cars....the aid sat and RN took vitals and was sure he did not need refills on meds etc.....I finally called the Hospice group's administrator, and ask her what was this male aid to do besides sit. She said he could make the bed, help with a shower, fix soup. I told her me as a wife was still able to do all of that and we would let them know when we needed his services. He told us from the git-go he got hot giving a shower. Maybe an option will come your way, for sure we could get limited to what all we can continue to do for our loved one. I did not mean to rant so on the Hospice group, believe me I could share more.
A friend, who lives alone, has a nice young woman from a service 4 days a week, very expensive as you know, she will do grocery shopping too. No way for me to help as I am states away from her. A prayer for you to have help you can depend on.

Thanks for your post. A Visiting Angels caregiver comes every morning for 2 hours to get my husband up. This is my 22nd year as a family caregiver and, because I'm a health/wellness writer, wrote 5 books for caregivers like me.