Years ago, it was easy to find qualified private nurses, assistants, personal care personnel. What has happened to the private duty skilled nurses? I have a father who is 93 and slowly dying. He is alert and oriented, but his legs and arms have gotten so weak, he can't get out of bed on his own. My mom is almost 89 and is not strong enough to get him up and out of bed. Hospice won't take him because he is too healthy. The VA won't help because he is not indigent. Medicare won't help because he is not skillable. Medicaid won't help because he is not indigent. I suggested to my mom that she contact the nursing school to see if they had a job board for posts and they gave her a number for a service in Manhattan. My parents live in Massapequa Park, about 15 minutes east of Nassau Community College. They are willing to hire the right person, but there does not seem to be anyone who is willing to help lift my dad into a chair- literally 2 feet away from the bed. I am 64 and go down every weekend to help. I wash his hair, help him brush his teeth and dentures, help feed him, dress him, change him. But during the week, there is nobody to help. So my dad lies in bed, a prisoner to his own weakness. Surely there must be someone out there who is in need of a part-time income. Can anyone help us?
