Private Aide for Sal During COVID

Many of you know that my husband, Sal, has been battling Multiple Sclerosis since 2006.    Over the years we have tried many different drugs and worked through hundreds of hours of therapy but despite that, beginning in 2019, he was unable to use his arms or legs in any way and was bedridden, needing round-the-clock care.   

In December of 2019 Sal entered ArchCare's Carmel Richmond Nursing Home in Staten Island.  No one was happy with this situation, but we made it work.    My daughter Barbara and I visited daily and his close network of family and friends visited very often, which made him happy and also gave him an extra measure of physical support.   

Because Medicare and Medicaid do not pay much for long-term care, the home is understaffed - and what staff they do have is completely overworked.  Lucky us, they are all the kindest and most selfless of angels - but they can only do so much.   Sal sometimes waits hours to be fed, cleaned, given medications, to make a phone call - or, silly as it sounds - to have the channel changed so he can watch his favorite show or to see if his team is winning.    Luckily, his strong network of visitors supplemented the staff and things were OK, if not great - until COVID struck.  

Family and friends have not been allowed to visit and support Sal  inside the home since March 14th!!!!  Due to the  critical situation in nursing homes nationwide, they are even more understaffed and overworked than ever before.    We had no choice but to hire a private aide for Sal (who is our hero!) and who has worked for us in the past.  However, when he worked for us at home, his services were covered by Medicaid.  We have consulted Medicaid, Medicare and an Elder Care/Long Term Care attorney - they will not cover a private aide while Sal is in a long-term care facility.

We have nearly exhausted our own savings and have been leaning hard on family and friends for financial support - but we can only ask so much for so long!  They have given generously and without hesitation.  We are so lucky!  However, we had no idea we would be in this situation for so long when it all first began and now are looking for other ways to keep our aide with Sal until Barbara and I and our family and friends can return to the home to help and support him, physically and emotionally.    It is so hard to swallow your pride and ask for outside help in this way but I don't see another option - and Sal needs help.  

Our much-loved aide has never set a price...but we pay him $100 cash per day for each 9-10-hour day - currently 4 days a week.  For this money he is Sal's friend, nurse, advocate, phone dialer, channel changer, and countless other things, but most importantly peace of mind to the entire family.  We would like to be able to keep him for 3 days per week for what looks like will be another six months.    That's how we came up with the $7,200 figure.  

Thanks so much for reading.  Every penny helps - but we truly appreciate anything and everything, including thoughts and prayers!!!!   

Sal, Maria and Barbara Costanzo