There is precious little assistance from the government for families who need a home health aide unless they are poor. The people working in these jobs are often woefully underpaid and unprepared to help a frail, elderly person with dementia to bathe and use the bathroom, or to defuse an angry outburst.<\/p>\n
Usually, it is family that steps into the breach \u2014 grown children who cobble together a fragile chain of visitors to help an ailing father; a middle-aged daughter who returns to her childhood bedroom; a son-in-law working from home who keeps a watchful eye on a confused parent; a wife who can barely manage herself looking after a faltering husband.<\/p>\n
Mr. [Frank] Lee finally found two aides on his own, with no help from an agency. Using the proceeds from the sale of his stake in a group of restaurants, including the popular Charleston bistro Slightly North of Broad, he pays them the going rate of about $30 an hour. Between his wife\u2019s care and medical expenses, he estimates that he\u2019s spending between $80,000 and $100,000 a year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho the hell can afford this?\u201d he asked. \u201cThere\u2019s no relief for families unless they have great wealth or see their wealth sucked away.\u201d He worries that he will run out of money and be forced to sell their home of more than three decades. \u201cFunds aren\u2019t unlimited,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n Facing a severe shortage of aides and high costs, people trying to keep aging loved ones at home often cobble together a patchwork of family and friends to help. https:\/\/t.co\/o7DgtCZFzp<\/a><\/p>\n — NYT Science (@NYTScience) December 4, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n