Home Health Aide Help with Private Insurance

Hi Florencia,
I imagine it would take a skillfully drafted letter from your doc. Are you up there in age, is your husband working? I am sure all of those things would come into play. If you don’t ask you will never know, and if your insurance pays for it, why not take advantage of it. Good luck!!!
Dawn Kevies mom

PS, don’t know how you feel about this, but maybe there is a church in your neighborhood you could call, alot of times they have volunteers as well, high schools ALWAYS are looking for community service projects for the students. My son just completed a project at a womans shelter. Hopefully your doc and insurance comapany will be able to help you!

When I was at my worst, unable to walk & no use of my arms or hands, I did have an RN coming to the house to do my IVIG & solumedrol infusions, taking my blood pressure & listening to my heart rate. But when we checked to see if it would cover anything like bathing me or helping me dress, we were told that that was considered “maintenance therapy” & it would cost us $35 for half an hour. We had excellent private insurance, still do. Forget about medical insurance paying for someone to clean your house…

We got a house keeper for $15 an hour every two weeks (still have her), & my mother moved in to take care of me during the day. She made my breakfast & lunch, helped with dinners, helped me to get dressed, emptied my commode, etc. My husband gave me sponge baths, washed my hair in the sink, did all of the errands, bills, dishes, washing of clothes, etc. We lived like this for two years until I finally began to show improvement from my cytoxan infusions months prior.

Dawn has some excellent suggestions, I know our church has a list of volunteers to do things like grocery shopping, cleaning, running errands, etc. I wish I had known that at the time. There are also other agencies that can help out as well. But private insurance paying for someone to clean, I doubt it…

It never hurts to call & ask your insurance company. My step-grandma is on Social Security & has someone come to her house twice a week to run errands & clean up. She has fibromyalgia & a few other illnesses I can’t exactly remember right now.

Good luck,
Kelly

I went through a few agencies and the cheapest was $ 15.00 an hour/two hour or more only. This was for someone to drive me to the doctors/errands. Then I met this nice lady who charged me next to nothing to get my groceries/medicine/drive me to the doctors.
So please call a church or ask your friends/neighbors who they may know.Your friends/neighbors may have a responsible teenager/college student/adult family member who may want to help you for much less than any agency would charge,
I do have one neighbor who has home health aides come in to clean/get her groceries but according to her she must watch them constantly.
Do you still have contacts where you used to work who could give you names of possible helpers? The aides would be glad to be paid directly and you could negotiate payment lower than what the agency would charge. I paid my helpers in cash and they were happy about that.

Florencia,
I would almost BET you could get the kind of help you need, especially with the kids. For example, our HS has a program that allows the kids to do a daycare situation for a class. Parents can drop off the children at the HS and they are cared for. Or, I am sure the baby sitting situation could be filled with community service hours. Maybe you could call the local HS and ask to speak to the guidance counselor to see if they could help you out. Good luck.
Dawn Kevies mom

I had no idea how young you were when I responded, or how young your children are. My daughter is 33 & due with her second in a week or two. I just can’t imagine if it were her with this illness. I was struck at 48 & remember that foremost in my mind was the fact that my youngest child had just turned 21.
I know all too well when you complain that people just don’t get it, or that we look too well to feel this crappy. Yesterday I had a good day, no I can’t walk without my AFOs, run, jump, carry anything, etc. But I actually felt somewhere near to what a healthy person my age must feel. I can’t remember the last time I had felt that way. I can’t offer any more suggestions, but I certainly get it. I can say a prayer for you, no more, no less…

Hi Florencia,
I would definitely call your insurance company and also ask your doctor.
Next, maybe the Salvation Army or the Catholic Charities could help or perhaps these organization could suggest where to get the help you need.
My prayers are going strong for you on this one. Hang in there. Times have got to get better for you and your family.
We all have lots of ideas for you and something’s got to work.
I will pray for your healing and hope that things get easier for you soon.

I didn’t find out about meds to help stop/lessen the migraines, nausea or pain from IVIG till months later. Ask your neuro for them.
So many of us laid in bed or the sofa drenched in sweat/fatigue from the IViG for days….When brushing my teeth became an option I really wondered what in the world was going on??
Since we look okay no one has a clue. If someone stops by unexpectedly they always say-Are you ill. You look terrible. Yea. this is me “not pretending” to be okay.
Having CIDP in its self is difficult plus the draining infusions and YOU have TWO small children.Can any parents/relatives come to help?? I am so grateful my bible group ladies said We’re in charge-you rest. We’ll do all the errands/taking you to clinic for infusions/whatever. We’re here-all of us. And they did as they said.
Wishing you the best. Contacting the needed agencies/groups is time consuming but hope you find what you need.