If your father was on active duty for at least 90 days during a war, your mother can apply for a Veteran’s Aid and Attendance benefit worth approximately $900 per month. You need to contact the Veteran’s Administration office in your area or call the National Care Planning Council (800-989-8137) and they will refer you to someone in your state who can help you. I know your job is a very difficult one and one you never expected would happen. Many women like you find themselves caught in the same role. God bless you. You are truly an angel.

I would appreciate very much your providing me with a post or any info you can on the Lifestation program. This type of alert program is very important for protecting our parents and giving us peace of mind.

Thank you so much for your comment. You bring up a very good point. It is very important for the family of a caregiver to support her in whatever way they can. They certainly cannot replace the caregiver in her role as primary contact with a parent bu they can do a lot to help her. It is clear that your husband understood the importance of supporting you.

I was my mother’s full-time caregiver for over two years while still juggling family responsibilities (mom to 3 daughters and a wife). And along with your praise for the women in your life, I volley back to you that I couldn’t have made it without my husband’s strength, patience, and encouragement. He watched my mom for me, held me when I was crabby and exhausted, and helped out around the house and with the girls (who also helped) in numerous ways.

Caring for my mom taught all of us how very important family is.

~Carol O’Dell
Author, Motheirng Mother: A Daughter’s Humorous and Heartbreaking Memoir
available on Amazon
http://www.mothering-mother.com

I enjoyed your blog and your writings on the senior issues I work for a company called LifeStation (a senior medical alert provider). We receive tons of testimonials from our customers on a daily basis telling us how the medical alert service helps them regain that peace of mind knowing that their elderly parents can get help when home alone with a simple push of a button. I personally would love to contribute to an article about medical alerts if you feel that it will help your blog readers. There are many companies in this field and there is a lot of fraud going on from some “basement” companies that people should be cautious about. We even wrote an article on how to choose the right company … http://www.lifestation.com/how_choose.php

Even though we are interested in “publicity” we are glad to give our input without any recognition simply because this is a great product/service that has given millions of caregivers peace of mind.