sleepygirlguide-blog

[sleepygirlguide-blog]

How to Shop Without Standing Up

Twelve ways to get groceries and supplies without standing up.

“I moved to a rural area far away from any big stores. My mom called the small local grocery store and told them I was homebound. They agreed to let me order all my groceries over the phone and someone delivered them each week.”

“I contacted a company that provided bulk items to food co-ops. Every three months, they drive a truck up to my door and bring me a huge supply of food. I bought a small extra freezer to store it all. The food is all high quality and organic. Because I buy in bulk it is very cheap and delivery is free. I live in a remote rural area and they still drive right up to my house”

“In my area, all supermarkets and many other big stores have electric carts you can sit in and use while shopping. I could not shop without these.”

“Door-to-Door Organics will deliver a box of fresh fruit and vegetables to your door every week. You can customize what goes in the box and you can add other grocery items – milk, cheese, meat, dry goods, etc.”

“Amazon Fresh delivers to your door. They are starting a pilot program to accept foods stamps in some areas.”

“In some areas Prime Now will deliver groceries and other items in two hours. I used it a fair amount. If you have Amazon Prime yearly membership it is a good option.”

“My friend used the online pharmacy pill pack for ordering meds. He liked them so much, he went to work for them.”

“I found one supermarket who will deliver and actually bring groceries into the house and unpack them. I’m not aware of another supermarket who will do that. Call or email your local stores and ask what is possible.”

“Some supermarkets have a service where you can order your groceries online, then drive up to the store and someone will come out and load all your groceries into the trunk.”

“Many areas have meals-on-wheels programs that will deliver meals to your home. They are free or low-cost. These programs are not just for seniors. Trying calling your local Area Agency on Aging and tell them you are disabled.”

“In my area, all supermarkets and many other big stores have electric carts you can sit in and use while shopping. I could not shop without these. There is one supermarket that will bring an electric cart out to your car and have a bagger help you while shopping in the store. Call or email your local stores to ask.”

“I use Thrive Market for online groceries. As far as I know, they do not accept food stamps, but membership is free if you are low income.”

“Instacart has been a game changer for me for grocery delivery. Same day delivery – even within 2 hours most of the time. You can request that the groceries be left on your porch”

“Peapod is a good service for grocery delivery, but you have to be up to answering the door or dealing with big crates if you have unattended delivery. But still a good option.”

“I found that eating fully pastured meats helped me feel better than eating stuff from the grocery store. I used US Wellness Meats for several years. If I timed my order right I would get my meat on the weeks that they offered a 15% discount.”

All states have caregiver programs, which are usually free. In some states, this service includes shopping. Learn more: How To Be Homebound

[sleepygirlguide-blog]

How to Get a Doctor to Come to Your House

I was pretty shocked to learn that 25% of people with CFS/ME are bedridden or homebound. I don’t know why I was so shocked, since I have been homebound for many years, and mostly bedridden for some of them.

Medicare and Medicaid will both pay for home doctor visits. I do not know about other insurance companies. Of course, finding a doctor who will actually come to your home is another story. Here are some ideas:

Home Doctor Services

Some programs or businesses offer home visits and will bill Medicare or Medicaid. You may be able to find them by looking online. Here’s a few I found by googling words like: “Home doctor visits” and “homebound” and “doctor” or and the names of different cities and states:

New York doctors

New York dental

New Mexico dental

Portland Oregon

Florida, Illionois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin

Northern Virginia

More Northern Virginia.

Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina and Ohio

San Franciso and LA Dentists (warning: Expensive!)

Telehealth

Telehealth or telemedicine is healthcare available online or over the phone. I do not know a lot about these services and would love to hear from anyone who has used them. Please comment below. Here is a map from the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center. For mental health, you might try contacting public mental health agencies in your area and see if they offer this service. In certain situations, telehealth may be covered by insurance. There are also many websites that offer consultations with doctors for a fee.

Palliative Care

You can try calling hospice programs and palliative care programs in your area to see if they can arrange anything or if they know of local doctors that offer this service.

Visiting Nurse, Personal Aide & Physical Therapist (Medicare)

Medicare may provide assistance in your home from a part-time nurse, personal aide, and (if needed) physical therapist. To qualify, you must be have these two things: One: You must be homebound (leaving the house is difficult and infrequent). Two: You must have a medical need for a licensed nurse (for example, if you need injections or you have a wound that needs dressing). Learn more here and find an agency here.

Visiting Nurse (Medicaid)

Medicaid may provide part-time visits from nurse in your home. To qualify you must be on Medicaid, and your doctor must order the service. To find out more, talk to your doctor and contact home care agencies in your area.

Asking

Some people have had success finding a doctor by simply calling or writing local doctors until they found one willing to do a home visit.

Other Services

There are many other programs that offer services for people who are homebound or have difficulty leaving their house: How To Be Homebound

[sleepygirlguide-blog]

How to Be Homebound

I have been homebound for many years, and for almost all of them I had no idea that there were programs out there that could help.

If you are homebound, or bedridden, or have difficulty leaving your home, please take a look and see if there is there is something out there for you.

You do not need to be on disability to apply for most of these programs.

Home Meals

Many areas have meals-on-wheels or similar programs that deliver meals to you. These programs will often be free or low cost. Even if the program says it is for Seniors, you should still call them. Sometimes they will deliver to younger people with disabilities. Contact meals on wheels or your local area agency on aging to see if there is a program in your area.

Home Nurses & Doctors

Both Medicare and Medicaid may provide home visits from doctors. Some other insurance programs will also pay for this service. As you may have figured out, it is not that easy to find a doctor who will come to your house! Here are some ideas for: How to Find a Nurse or Doctor who Can Come to Your House

Finding the Best People to Live With

When you are homebound, the people in your house matter a LOT. Those are the only people you see! Here’s How to Find Wonderful Housemates & Caregivers

Medications

Some local pharmacies will deliver to your home. You can also fill prescriptions through online pharmacies, and some will accept insurance. I have heard good things about pill pack.

Groceries

So many people wrote me with good ideas for grocery shopping, I had to create a new page! How to Shop Without Standing Up

Door-To-Door Transportation

Most cities, and some rural areas, have para-transit programs that will take you anywhere. Many will go anywhere in your city, and sometimes they will travel to other areas. These programs are free or low-cost. In some areas, these programs are difficult to qualify for and in other areas they are very easy to get into. Contact the public transportation agency in your area. How Roselyn Got Approved for Paratransit by Using the Magic Words

Taxis to Doctors (Medicaid)

Medicaid will provide free transportation to all your doctor’s appointments. Contact your Medicaid provider for more details. In some areas, you will need to apply for this. In other areas, you do not need to apply and if you are on Medicaid, you can get this automatically.

Homecare Waiver Programs

If you need assistance with personal care (eating, bathing, dressing, etc), you may qualify for a homecare waiver program that will give you a caregiver. In many programs, these caregivers can also assist with other activities (shopping, cooking, cleaning, doctor’s appointments). Hours vary. It is often 20-30 hours per week. These programs are run by Medicaid, but don’t let that scare you off. Even if you are not eligible for regular Medicaid, you may qualify for one of these programs. To qualify for this program, you will need to answer some very specific questions: Home Care Questions

Funding for the Person who Cares for You Now

In the waiver programs listed above, you may select your own caregiver. You can hire a friend, neighbor, family member, or anyone you choose. In most states, you cannot hire a spouse, but can hire other family members. The salary is paid by the state.

Household Help Programs

If you need help in your house (cleaning, cooking) but do not need personal care (bathing, eating, dressing, toilet), in some areas there are programs that provide this service. They will usually send someone from an agency to your home a few hours per week. This program is not available in most states. Try calling your local Adult Services Department or social services agency. Also, try calling your state agency on aging (even if you are young, still call here).

Veterans Homecare

The Veteran’s Administration offers self directed home care. If you are homebound, you can get extra money for being homebound. You can also get all kinds of other home-based services. I don’t know a lot about these programs. If you are in this program, or if you try applying, please write me. I would love to know more.

Applying for Disability

You do not need to be on disability to qualify for most home care programs. Just ask Azalea: How Azalea Got Turned Down for Disability but Approved for a Caregiver. If you are in a home care program, the documents from this program can be a great help to your disability application. Please save copies of anything your doctor signs or fills out. Also, ask your caseworker or contact person for copies of your file and copies of any assessments that were done when you joined the program. Submit these documents to Social Security. It can help a lot.

Social Change

This is an important time for people with disabilities to be included. You can vote at home by absentee ballot. You can also make your voice heard. You do not have to leave the house, or even leave your bed! How to #Resist Without Using All Your Spoons.

Connection

If you are interested in connected with other advocates with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, there are many ways to get involved from home: How to be Part of the #MEAction

Online Support

It’s hard for homebound people to meet other homebound people! There are several great Facebook groups: Here is a wonderful Support group for people with ME/CFS who are housebound or bedridden. And here is a Long List of My Personal Favorite Facebook Groups

Local Resources

Many areas have local organizations and groups that assist people in need. Your local area agency on aging can be a great resource (call here even if you are young). I cannot find a national directory. Try googling the name of your state and the words: area aging agency. You can also try contacting Centers for Independent Living in your area, or directly reaching out to senior centers, religious groups, and local charity groups.

Mental Health Home Support (Medicaid)

If you have a psychiatric condition, in some areas, you may be able to get in a program that provides mental health support in your home. This person comes to your home and offers you support with medication management, household tasks and coping with symptoms. They can also accompany you to your doctors or other life activities. How to find this service: This service is called different things in different states and may not be available in all areas. Try contacting behavioral health agencies in your area and asking how you can get mental health support in your home. You can also try contacting your state Medicaid office to see if they can point you in the right direction.

Mental Health Waivers

These programs offer the same services described above, and may have other kinds of support as well. These programs are run by Medicaid, but don’t let that scare you off. Even if you are not eligible for regular Medicaid, you may still be eligible for waiver programs. Waivers for mental illness are now available in Connecticut, California, Colorado, Ohio, and elsewhere. You can also look up the names of different waiver programs. Make sure to ask about or research exactly what kind of mental health background and treatment you need to qualify.

State Nursing Homes & Assisted Living

If you are unable to care for yourself and do not have funds, Medicaid will pay for a nursing home. In some states, Medicaid will also pay for assisted living programs. You do not need to be on Medicaid now to qualify. Some private nursing homes dedicate a certain number of beds for Medicaid patients. Private facilities may have higher quality of life.

If you are already in a nursing home and want to be out of it, please look into the home care medicaid waiver programs listed above. There may be programs available to help you transition back into the community and get care in your home. You can learn more about keeping people out of institutions from the advocacy group ADAPT.

For Children

Some states have programs that provide home services for children with disabilities.

Tips from the Pros

Tips from readers on how to make life easier at home: How to Get the World to Come to You