Me Zilch. Too Late for a Caregiver Contract? I believe I've seen this before, but could not find it. My eldest brother is POA and will be putting in $300.00 monthly, as well as middle brother, into Dad's account next month due to running out of the monies set aside for his and Mom's latter days. I've been caregiver since 10/2010, Mom passed 02/2014 and she was very alert, but Dad has dementia. He knows everyone, but short term memory is bad. He also has to take Citalopram for his anger when he 'dreams' I have stolen from. Every year for 3 years he would really believe he saw and heard me say I was stealing from him, different stories. Man he had horrible anger. He actually saw these things and said I said something and it was real to him. First time, easy to prove to him, second HARD, but De. recommended 'citalopram' and 2 1/2 weeks, normal. This last time was bad, but changed med and it took almost 2 months, that was rough. O K, back on subject. If I can't convince my brother to just help without reimbursement, I thought I would present a contract. My Mother's only surviving sister, who talked with each other daily, told me to tell him I want back pay. She and Mom knew what I was sacrificing, but brothers think I should be paying rent not living and eating free. I don't want for them to put him in a home just to get back at me. The sell of Dad's house is the only inheritance and both brothers are well to do. I've lost $150.00 a month from Social Security for not working these past 6 years, all I get is $904. I don't want for them to be like the 'Twisted Sisters' of another CG. Thanks for reading my sob story, but I need help. Don't know what to do.
BTW Any monies you or your brother contribute to father care will be considered income paid to him per medicaid/DCF. Even if a loan. A loan is considered by them as income even Amscot.
Run don't walk to lawyer
How much is your father's house worth? Are the three of you equal heirs? Are your brothers going to be expecting reimbursement for the $300 each/month they are already putting in?
And what happens when your father inevitably becomes more difficult to manage?
I would not go back and ask for payment from the past year, 2 years...
I think that there are other ways to help.
Is either your father or mother a veteran? If so there are programs that could help pay for caregivers. And you could be a paid caregiver through the programs. Senior Services might help they may know of state or federal programs that might help to pay for supplies, caregivers or possibly Adult Day Care.
Medicare does pay for some supplies, Medicaid might also help if they qualify.
(In any case keep all receipts as medical is tax deductible)
In my opinion Reverse Mortgage would probably be a last resort, it can get complicated and if anyone else is living in the house that can be problematic if you have to leave once the person that has signed for the reverse mortgage has passed away. If this is a route you want to look into get a good lawyer to check contract and all the details.
Getting back to you...If you do get paid as a caregiver fill out the correct forms, pay into Social Security. Make sure that your parents insurance will cover caregivers for injuries. The last thing you need to happen is that you injure yourself and 10, 15, 20 years down the road you will need help yourself due to an injury that occurred while helping Mom and Dad.
You also might want to check Hospice, find out if they either or or both qualify for Hospice. With Hospice you will have CNA's that will help you several times a week, a nurse that will check medications, order them and you will get the equipment that you need to help care for them.