My living situation is much different from most, as I have two adult mentally handicapped gentleman living with me. The older guy has been living with me since 1980 and the younger one since 1982, eight years before I broke my neck. They are my job and I get paid for my time training them, and for all living expenses. It is a win-win situation.
I have 35 HRS per week for attendant care for myself, I am a complete C4 with no movement other than a shoulder shrug, so I have someone come in the morning and get me up and then another person returns in the evening and puts me to bed. My husband and I divorced six years after I broke my neck, and I retained the house and property. In 2002 I sold the house to my daughter and built one designed by me and my son in law and friends built the house. Now that I'm over 65-get Social Security retirement, but I was not eligible for 14 years for disability because I was missing one quarter of work in the last five years before I was injured. My caregivers are provided by an agency which is funded by a grant from the state of Nevada. Payment is on a sliding scale depending on income. It's a fantastic program. I am very lucky to have it. I have my own van, a 1990 Chevy that had been converted into a recreational vehicle with the raised roof. I purchased it five years ago for $4000 and installed a lift that I purchased off of Ebay for $500. Reno also has an excellent access program. Door to door for $3.00 each way for any reason, a 30 minute window in which they arrive, and if it is after their standard working hours a taxi ride for the same $3.00. By having a host family for my guys as I call them I do give up an open schedule. If I want to go out of town I have to make arrangements for someone to live in the house and send somebody needs to be with them on the property at all times I have to schedule all appointments and social activities around their time frame. But believe me, it is very important as I have some financial independence and is well worth the drawbacks. Joan in sunny in Reno where summer has finally come. C4 quad 1990
