At Least The Recession Is Over

I can remember the big celebration when the President announced that we were out of the recession. I don't remember the exact day that happened, such as Oct 10, 2009 or April 15th, 2009 but I can remember that the statement of success came before I lost my job.

It was before my husband's job position was "re-designated" to a lower pay grade and fewer hours cutting his pay check by $100.00.

It was before the gas prices shot-up to $4.00 a gallon and hamburger prices rose to $3.89 a pound.

Now, my 20 hour a week job has been cut to 4 hours--due to budget cuts. So thank God the recession is over. Can you imagine how tough it would be if we were still in the recession?

The Area on Aging agency that I work through in caring for mom at home paid me as her care-giver. Now, they have cut payment to any care giver who lives in the same location as the client being cared for. They thinking on this is that I live here and I will cook, clean, wash her clothes and take care of her whether I am paid for it or not. So now, they only pay for personal care, such as giving her a bath, taking her to the doctor's, helping her get to the bathroom--4 hours a week.

They are correct in thinking that I will do those things whether I am paid for them or not--that's very true...but the pay check for the 20 hours allow me to stay home with her all the time and still keep up with needs of food, gas, medicine or what not.

The case worker told me that she has 50 clients and so far she has visited with 15 of them to explain the new rules beginning September 1st, 2011. Out of those 15 she's visited with--10 have quit the program and turned their loved ones over to area nursing homes. They can not afford to lose the money so they have to go outside of the house to work.

The powers that be are faced with an enormous task of trying to balance a budget that is far over-reaching its seams and unfortunately their fixes often create worse corrections. Medicaid beds in nursing homes are few and far between since the recession ended, I know because there was a time when I was checking into the nursing home situation.

Having the loved one at home provided a more enjoyable environment then a nursing home setting can, and the paycheck provided extra income to cover expenses for the care giver. With those hours being cut it forces so many to resort to plan B---have mom, or dad, or Aunt Alice taken care of in nursing home while they get a job.

Can't say I blame them. You do what you have to do to survive.

I can't leave Mom and I can't place her in a nursing home, not yet, not until I have too. So, yes it will be tight. It will be a struggle on the budget.

All I can say is, Thank God we are out of the recession.