N.S. caregivers allowance tough to get – Yahoo! Canada News
N.S. caregivers allowance tough to get - Yahoo! Canada News
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Fri Sep 25, 10:02 AM
NOVA.SCOTIA (CBC) - Nova Scotians who look after severely disabled relatives or friends say that it's difficult to qualify for the province's new $400 caregiver allowance, the first program of its kind in Canada.
Brenda Sheppard, of Sydney, who is caring for her bedridden 91-year-old grandmother, said she was turned down when she applied for the allowance the day after it became available.
"The care co-coordinator came and did the assessment and said she's not disabled enough, she doesn't have enough issues to fall under the program," Sheppard said.
"She can't even scratch her back. How much more can you be disabled?"
Home-care workers stop in three times a day to help wash and move her grandmother, Sheppard said, and a VON nurse comes every day to treat an injury.
Caregivers Nova Scotia was started 10 years ago by people who care for loved ones in their own home. They were excited when the government announced its caregiver allowance.
But Sharon Reashore, executive director of Caregivers Nova Scotia, is puzzled by the eligibility guidelines.
"We are starting to hear stories of caregivers who have been assessed, but are told they are not eligible for the allowance," she said.
"Caregivers are bewildered and confused. You know, just the feeling that the recognition that was supposed to be there wasn't there."
Caregivers Nova Scotia is asking people who have applied for the allowance and been either accepted or rejected to contact them with their stories. They plan to present their findings to the government.
The program was announced by the NDP government in August.
"We recognize the very important role that caregivers have in the lives of the people they care for," Health Minister Maureen MacDonald said at the time. "We know that caregivers need support themselves so that they can continue to provide care to their family members and friends."
The program is targeted at low income care recipients who have a high level of disability or impairment as determined by an assessment. If the caregiver and the care recipient both qualify for the program, the caregiver will receive the caregiver allowance of $400 per month, according to the Health Department website.
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