It has been a few days since I've written. I'm just writing
this as a quick update. I have been in Florida for almost nine months. For the
most part, things are going well. However, there is one issue that has still
been a struggle for my family and me. As some of you may know, taking care of a
person with a disability often requires that one rely on others' help. People
who are forced to rely on support from others usually have two options; they
can either pay out-of-pocket or go through a state waiver.
It
is impractical for most people to pay out-of-pocket if I used myself as an
example. I need 24-hour care. Suppose one was to pay out-of-pocket at the rate
of $10 an hour that would equal the following.: $240 a day, $1680 a week, $6700
a month, and $80 640 a year. This is not a practical solution for the long
term. The only long-term solution is to go with a state waiver. However, the
waiver itself presents problems of its own.
If
one applies for the waiver, there's generally a waiting period of several
months. In my case in Florida, it has taken 8 1/2 months even to get partial
aid care.
While this partial aid care helps out a little, my family is
left to help with my aid care or fund the rest. While I've been dealing with
this issue, it has caused me to ponder a more significant problem.
As
of now, the aid care system is not federalized. It differs from state to state.
This means that if a person gets many hours in one state, it does not transfer
from one to another. There is no uniform formula for determining the maximum
amount of hours someone could get. For example, the maximum in Pennsylvania is
84 hours a week, whereas, in North Carolina, the max is 30-40 hours a week. I
am unaware at this point what the maximum amount of hours in Florida is. But I
have been told the maximum amount falls short of the 84 hours in Pennsylvania I
received.
I
consider myself a moderate on most issues but when it comes to the aid care the
system I feel as if the federal government needs to take over how it is run. If
we can federalize healthcare, we should federalize care for those who need it
the most. What would the federalization of aid care provide? It would provide a
uniform system, which would examine individual needs. Still, more money would
be given to the budgetary needs of the people who are using the service. This
is just food for thought.
Until next
time thank you for reading & fear nothing but regret less!
