[Monty76]

I am a C3-C4 Quadriplegic and my fiance took care of me for 3 years and once we got married we were told that it is illegal for a spouse to work as another spouses caregiver. Well since then we have had nothing but problems, it took us 3 months to finally find a caregiver through this consumer directed home health care co. and no one that we find will stay with us because its not enough pay. its barely over minimum wage home health care agencies don't pay enough for us to find someone long term, and now that i have to work elsewhere i cant afford to miss work because we lose a caregiver. I just want whoever made the ridiculous rule that a wife cant work as her husbands caregiver to explain this to me, why they would rather a stranger come into your house, instead of your wife, someone who knows what she is doing, and who you are comfortable with, either way they will be paying someone, why does it matter so much who it is? It seems to me they want to make a disabled persons life even more difficult than it already is...it is so frustrating!! We just dont know what to do anymore, we feel so hopeless. Is there anyway around this? Or is there any other state that does allow this? please help...thank you!

[Hawkeye]

Can your wife not provide care without payment? I'm guessing she is doing something differently than when she provided paid care as your fiance.

Assuming you are both working outside the home, can either of you adjust your work hours so she could help get you off to work before leaving for work herself.

Joe

[GigliottiAPG]

Monty76, on Feb 21 2009, 05:59 PM, said:

I am a C3-C4 Quadriplegic and my fiance took care of me for 3 years and once we got married we were told that it is illegal for a spouse to work as another spouses caregiver. Well since then we have had nothing but problems, it took us 3 months to finally find a caregiver through this consumer directed home health care co. and no one that we find will stay with us because its not enough pay. its barely over minimum wage home health care agencies don't pay enough for us to find someone long term, and now that i have to work elsewhere i cant afford to miss work because we lose a caregiver. I just want whoever made the ridiculous rule that a wife cant work as her husbands caregiver to explain this to me, why they would rather a stranger come into your house, instead of your wife, someone who knows what she is doing, and who you are comfortable with, either way they will be paying someone, why does it matter so much who it is? It seems to me they want to make a disabled persons life even more difficult than it already is...it is so frustrating!! We just dont know what to do anymore, we feel so hopeless. Is there anyway around this? Or is there any other state that does allow this? please help...thank you!

HI,
I KNOW MANY PEOPLE IN YOUR SITUATION WHO ALMOST HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I LIVE RIGHT
OUTSIDE OF BOSTON,MA. AND HERE WE HAVE A P.C.A PROGRAM WITH THE SAME RULES. WELL, I
ASSUME YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT PROGRAM WHERE YOU HIRE PEOPLE YOU FIND ON YOUR
OWN, DO THEIR TIMESHEET BIWEEKLY, RECEIVE A CHECK FROM A PAYROLL CO. AND PAY THEM.
ALL THE PEOPLE I KNOW IN YOUR SITUATION FINDS A FRIEND TO PUT THE CHECKNAME IN AND
GIVE THEM A LITTLE CASH FOR THE FAVOR. JUST AN IDEA!

[doublelibra]

I know that in Nebraska a son/daughter can be paid as a caregiver, and a spouse probably could, too.

[Ratticis]

Because the people who make these rules are in some office somewheres and are perfectly healthy

[Doc]

I live in North Alabama and my Girlfriend helps to take care of me. How do I go about getting her some compensation for doing so??

Mark