General Discussion

Coventina

(27,233 posts) Sat Jul 8, 2017, 09:02 PM Jul 2017

My grandmother is the widow of a WWII veteran

She's in her mid-90s, lives alone in her own home (by choice).

Part of her benefits as a the widow of a veteran is that she has part-time help come in three days a week for four hours. (She actually doesn't want that much help, but this is the minimum number of hours allowed per the VA).

The company charges $22 an hour for this service.

The woman gets paid $10 an hour.

This seems like there is a lot of waste/fraud/abuse in this system.

My grandmother feels horrible about it that it is costing the VA this kind of money, when other veterans are not getting much-needed medical care. Plus, why is the helper getting less than half of what the company is charging?

Something seems really wrong here.

I think the remaining WWII generation definitely deserves benefits and help, but it seems like companies like this are ripping off the system and the workers.

6 replies

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My grandmother is the widow of a WWII veteran (Original Post) Coventina Jul 2017 OP

The helper comes from a Home Health Agency, marybourg Jul 2017 #1

This message was self-deleted by its author Demonaut Jul 2017 #2

that is an equitable amount, I'm sure they pay some insurance for her and they need to do a Demonaut Jul 2017 #3

OK thanks for the reassurance. Coventina Jul 2017 #4

In-home care/meals on wheels are one of the biggest/best HELP and $-SAVERS of anything. UTUSN Jul 2017 #5

That's pretty much the typical spread PoindexterOglethorpe Jul 2017 #6

marybourg

(12,650 posts)

1. The helper comes from a Home Health Agency,

Reply to Coventina (Original post)

Sat Jul 8, 2017, 09:10 PM

Jul 2017

which is her employer, handling scheduling, contracting, taxes, insurance, benefits and which wants to make a profit, just like any business.

This program is called "Aid and Attendance". I hope it survives in case I need it. My spouse is a WWII vet also. He's in an assisted living home. We're fortunate not to need this help, but it's there for vets and spouses who need it.

Response to marybourg (Reply #1)

Demonaut This message was self-deleted by its author.

Demonaut

(8,939 posts)

3. that is an equitable amount, I'm sure they pay some insurance for her and they need to do a

Reply to Coventina (Original post)

Sat Jul 8, 2017, 09:26 PM

Jul 2017

a background check, I'm sure turnover is pretty high in that field and pay so new employees cost more than ones who've been around awhile, they need to pay themselves and pay for the business.

Coventina

(27,233 posts)

4. OK thanks for the reassurance.

Reply to Demonaut (Reply #3)

Sat Jul 8, 2017, 09:46 PM

Jul 2017

It just seemed like over 100% of what the employee was being paid was extremely high.

But, I don't run a business, so, I confess ignorance.

UTUSN

(70,810 posts)

5. In-home care/meals on wheels are one of the biggest/best HELP and $-SAVERS of anything.

Reply to Coventina (Original post)

Sat Jul 8, 2017, 09:51 PM

Jul 2017

Not like Military-Industrial-War scams.

The in-home care programs (Democratic, by the bye) are HUMANE and cost humongous amount less than nursing homes.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,931 posts)

6. That's pretty much the typical spread

Reply to Coventina (Original post)

Sat Jul 8, 2017, 11:15 PM

Jul 2017

between what a Temp agency charges and what the temp employee gets. This is an analogous situation.

Really, no one is being ripped off.

If your grandmother could afford to pay on her own, say $15/hour for that help, and hire someone directly, that would be nice, but I rather suspect she couldn't. So she should just appreciate that she gets this service. (That last sentence came out a bit snarky, which is not at all what I intend. What I intend is that the government provides this benefit, and she should happily make use of it.)

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