Litigation

Care Givers Need To Be Compensated For Their Services

By Michael Kaplen

The New York Times had a very important story earlier this week entitled "Veterans' Families Seek Aid For Caregiver Role".

The story explored the difficulties that family members who are acting as caregivers for those who have sustained a traumatic brain injury have in obtaining compensation for their services. 

I am very familiar with the issue that must be confronted in dealings with state Medicaid as well as with private insurance carriers as well as in litigation where proper compensation must be afforded to those injured and their families.

I have always thought the parents need to be parents and spouses need to be spouses.  The care or supervision  that needs to be rendered to those who have suffered a TBI often times makes the role of a parent or spouse into something that becomes strained and inappropriate.  It is far better for these services to be rendered by third parties.

However, those with the dollars always seem to find a way to save money.  They think that it is appropriate to only fund one eight hour shift and then pass the burden of care onto the family for the remaining portion of the day.  Did they forget that these family members have to eat and sleep themselves, that they may have other children to care for at home and other obligations that make it inappropriate for them to act as the sole caregiver for these sixteen hours?

I am glad to see that more and more attention is being focused on the needs of caregivers in caring for those suffering with brain damage.  To often, this is population is ignored and their needs go unmet.

You can read the full New York Times story by clicking here.

Full post as published by Brain Injury News and Information on November 15, 2008 (boomark / email).