Okay, only one member on here knows of my situation (Dana) but I really need to ask a question.
I have been on my own for the last 40 years as a high-level quad. I have always lived with family except over the last 4 years whereby I found a live-in caregiver that I could afford. Now the live-in caregiver I have had over the last 4 years users moving on and out-of-state. In our original contract if either of us were moving on we had to give the other person a 90 day written notice. She gave me a good 6 months notice so I've started advertising in January. I found her via craigslist when I was in Pennsylvania living with family who wanted me to move on when they knew I had nowhere to go. Absolutely nowhere and I was not going to move into a nursing home. I had a beautiful support dog and I would NOT survive in a nursing home anyway. All of my caregivers over the years know that I would not survive in a nursing home 2 months and I know that as well with my needs. Unfortunately or fortunately, I am not eligible for state help and that is because I received my Social Security from working, my husband's Social Security, a big savings account for so many reasons (I need a lot of dental work, I need to be able to have a co-pay for a new caregiver and so many other reasons) as well as my husband investing before he passed away. "Spending down" is like committing financial suicide because I don't think versions of Medicaid is going to last long and I have no way of controlling what I get from Social Security every month as well as a small annuity from the accident (which is peanuts when you live alone and my lawyer at the time screwed that up by not factoring in inflation and "What if Lori needs around-the-clock care at some point?"). * I put an ad on craigslist for 30 days which will be up on February 20th - soon. I got absolutely no response from anyone from that route. It used to be free to advertise 4 years ago but now it is $25. * I have signed up with care.com but have not found anyone yet. * I put an ad on the Facebook closed group for caregivers in my area but no responses. * For those familiar with Next-Door ... I put feelers out there with no response. * I have thought about putting an ad in our town newspaper and I have spoken with the head of classifieds for this. Their highest circulation output is Sundays and Wednesdays and if I want it and therefore a month it will be $273. I have used as little words as possible but my question to you guys is: When advertising in a newspaper and you live alone... should you use the word Quadriplegic? I have to have a way for people to reach me so I put my phone number and e-mail and asking for a "live-in" caregiver. I need to start training people ASAP since my current live-in is leaving the first week in August which sounds like a while from now but by the time you train someone and you make sure they are going to stay for a good amount of time for it to be worthwhile... time goes by quickly. My wheelchair batteries had some dead cells and they needed to be replaced which just happened this past Tuesday. My co-pay for those is $244. My live-in caregiver has not had a break in a year because of certain situations so she has really burned out and the one caregiver in my area who knows my care (but has a family and a full-time job) is going to take care of me 3 days next week and that is $600 but I have no other option. I have contacted so many places including my local Center for Independent Living and, being a quad as long as I have and working for an independent living center for 7+ years and having lived with family or my spouse over the last 40 years and to be fortunate to have found a fabulous live-in caregiver for the last 4 years... I am now desperate. My health deteriorated after being hurt soon after moving back here along with a domino effect that caused to this very day but I still have a great power wheelchair, Roho cushions, a fully adjustable hospital bed which I have always needed, a rotating air mattress that I have found my body can't go without (terrible autonomic dysreflexia if it's not working), my big Desktop Computer that I keep so very active with with many programs on it, my nice wheelchair conversion minivan, my German Shepherd support dog that I want to train more, and a host of different things that I definitely need for daily care. So, I guess I will advertise in my local newspaper but maybe just for two weeks to start but I need to know your opinion on me using the word Quadriplegic or not. Factoring in that I have pain medications. Finding trustworthy people in general is hard enough but to find someone new will be dependent upon for your whole care... :-( Thank you! ~Lori -- “Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.” ― Dean Koontz
