Caregiving: Tips for looking after a sick loved one

Hey everyone!

I’m facing a pretty huge challenge right now and could really use some perspective. My husband is quite ill—he’s dealing with muscular dystrophy—so he has very limited mobility and spends most of his time at home. I’m out working all day, and we live just outside of NYC.
Up until now, a family friend has been stepping in to help with his care, basically being there to assist him with whatever he needs throughout the day. But she’s actually moving abroad, so we won't be able to rely on her anymore. To be honest, I have absolutely no idea how to go about finding a professional caregiver, so any insight or advice you might have would mean the world to me. I did try posting an ad on Craigslist, but I haven't had much luck getting any real bites (probably because we’re a bit further out from the city center). Based on what you've seen, what are the typical rates for home care? Are there specific red flags I should watch out for? Honestly, any stories you can share—whether they were good experiences or total nightmares—would be incredibly helpful.
Thanks so much in advance!

mistyranger4 said:Hey everyone!

I’m facing a massive challenge right now. My husband is seriously ill with muscular dystrophy; he’s barely mobile and spends his days home alone while I’m out working full-time. We live just outside of NYC.
Up until now, a family friend has been helping out with his care—basically staying close by to make sure he has everything he needs—but she’s moving abroad, so we won't have her to rely on anymore. I have absolutely zero experience finding professional caregivers, so any intel or advice you can share would be a lifesaver. I put an ad out on Craigslist, but I haven't had much luck since we’re located in the suburbs of NYC. Based on what you've seen, what are the typical rates for home care? What red flags should I watch out for? Honestly, any story—good, bad, or ugly—would be incredibly helpful.
Thanks in advance!

I’m in a very similar boat, except I’m unemployed and my mother is completely immobile. A woman reached out offering to help specifically with bedside assistance (she wouldn't handle the heavy lifting or bathing, just being there to assist with other needs), essentially leaving the physical labor to me while she stays on hand from 10 to 15 hours a day for $833 a month. Apparently, that's considered a steal. You really have to be prepared to shell out a decent, average salary just to have someone look after your husband. Unfortunately, I'm just not in a financial position to afford that kind of care for my mom.🙂

I heard that working 8 hours a day for a month brings in about $700 to $800.