Caregiver Seeks Government Grant To Continue Caring For Handicapped Man
by Cynthia
I work with a 25-year-old male with Williams Syndrome. He can walk, bathe himself, feed himself, dress himself, cook, and clean for himself. But he has no concept of money, personal space, relationships, or when to say the correct things. He gets over excited or mad at small things. He has a job and goes to school. So I have to drive him to school and to his job or to the doctor. I take him to visit friends and family. I take him bowling and to the movies or out for lunch or dinner. I drive him everywhere and anywhere he needs to be or wants to go. I am not compensated at all for my gas or millage on my car. I also have to pay for my movie ticket or bowling or anything thing we go do together. I only make $8.50 an hour and work currently 50 hours a week with this man. From what I understand Medicaid or Medicare is paying my company to hire me to take care of him. I cannot afford all the gas and trips to the movies or lunch or bowling etc. Is there any kind of federal money out there for people in my situation who take care of handicapped people and have to drive them all over the place and take them out into society, to help pay for the gas and millage of my car and the movies and bowling etc. I love my job and adore my client but I am afraid I will not be able to do this job and live on my own unless I have some kind of help with this. I have to fill up my car with gas three times a week at 27 to 30 dollars a fill-up. I bring my lunch with me and he eats at the restaurant. I get strange looks but I can't afford to eat out with him. I don't even get overtime with this company and they don't have to pay overtime either. It's a wonder how they can keep good people doing this type of job. Thanks for any government grant or other help you can point me to.
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