Caregiver daily log

angela63

I met with an elderly law attorney and was advised to start a log showing everything I do for my mom.  She said this is necessary to prepare a personal care agreement and is required potentially to show medicaid, if ever needed.  Apparently, this should be done right away in the event a 5 year look back occurs.  So my question is ...

Is there any log book available for purchase anywhere?

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Me&Sis

Hi Angela,

I am wondering what a personal care agreement is?  

My sister and I share in caregiving for our mom. She lives part time at each of our homes. But, for now (in her current stage) this really feels like just living together.

Mom needs reminders of things, and supervision regarding others, and I manage all things money but mostly she manages fine and we know she's safe because she isn't living alone.

It seems like logging what we do, would take as much time as the doing... and much of the doing is stuff that we do for our family anyway (though it takes more time with her help, like with a child) she is just one more joining the family fun.

What is the purpose of a personal care agreement, separate from the logging of activity?

Thanks!

Me&Sis

MN Chickadee

Me and Sis it is likely related to qualifying for long term Medicaid down the road. The government can look back at 5 years of a person's finances and the person can't give away large sums in that period or it will delay/prevent qualification for Medicaid benefits. So if you give up a job to provide care for an elderly mother and she is paying you out of her own money you would want to make sure this does not prevent her from qualifying for Medicaid if she should need to move to a long term care facility. A care agreement shows the payments were legit and for services provided, and not an attempt to give away or hide cash. 

Cynbar

A personal care agreement is usually done when there is a financial arrangement for compensation to the caregiver. It's hard to predict the care needs in the future of the person with dementia, it may be necessary to apply for Medicaid which has a 5 year lookback on how funds are spent. Some people are denied Medicaid because large amounts of money are unaccounted for. By keeping a log, the caregiver is documenting all she does for the PWD to justify any payment she is receiving. If you aren't receiving payment, probably no need for a log.

PS ---- Chickadee, we posted pretty much the same thing at the same time!

aod326

When my stepdaughter spent several weeks with DH last summer, we were advised to type up a basic contract that outlined what she would be doing. At that point it was mostly making sure he didn't wander, was appropriately dressed when he left the house, made sure he was eating and drinking, plus talk to him.

The advice was specifically in case we were to use Medicaid in the future, to show that any financial gifts given in the following five years had a reason.

It doesn't need to be onerous - it's not like a lawyer having to account for every 10 minutes of their time!. Especially as you and your sister are probably doing the same tasks every day, with some other weekly tasks (such as finances). We now have a live-in caregiver (DH has a fast progressing dementia) and she has to complete a weekly timesheet. That consists of a list of potential tasks, such as making lunch, feeding breakfast, changing him, laundry etc; she checks off each thing she did that day. It takes five minutes.

I would say do it, better safe than sorry.

Teresag56

I am a new to this group, and also a new caregiver for my 91 yr old mom. My name is on her checking account and I have power of attorney.  I just brought her home from assisted living, because I was not getting to visit her and no one knew when we would see her again. Do I need to keep a log of expenses. I use our joint checking account for her personal items she needs.