Sorry you're having trouble finding someone. I had this site bookmarked. http://assistantpages.com/ Not sure it will help. How local is this paper? I think you should think about expanding your search area. I get where you're coming from about using the word quadriplegic. It can make you a target but it's not really something you want to spring on a potential caregiver either. Wish you luck
On Tue, Feb 18, 2020 at 3:18 PM Lori Michaelson <lorilivin...@gmail.com> wrote: > 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 >
