Where Do "need Caregiver" Posts Go?

[rockinsteady]

Well, some people post 'em here, and some folks put 'em over there...

 

So, post your request here in "Caregiver Issues" or in "Patient Issues", it doesn't much matter.

 

To make sure your request catches someone's eye, while not saying too much (this is the Net, you know):

 

I. "Topic Title": mention that you want a care giver, and perhaps your general location

 

II. The text portion can say very little, but some folks include:

 

 a. mention whether you have an MM card or not (your care giver can help you get your card)

 

 b. any special requirements which don't reveal too much or hurt your confidentiality (perhaps, "I need mainly edibles", or "The request if for my minor child (a young teen)."

 

 c. any timing requirement, such as "I'll need meds before 60 days is up, if not a little sooner.", or "Eek, I'm out of meds completely!"

 

 

Expect responses via private messages from the care givers, rather than forum posts telling you they are on their way!

 

Trade a bit more about your needs and expectations with the care giver through private message, and learn what the care giver can offer you. Proceed from there to get to know each other better, or come back and post a question or two if you need a little more help from the forum.

 

It's OK to tell your care giver that you can't pay much. If he can't work with you, perhaps someone else can. Of course, if you can pay for your meds (to cover reasonable costs to grow and process your meds), you will find more care givers who can work with you. Just don't let lack of funds stop you from asking for a care giver. Some care givers may even offer to pay the cost of your getting certified with a doctor. So, don't be afraid to ask for what you need when you are negotiating with your care giver.

 

At some point, after you are both comfortable with meeting to handshake on or sign an agreement (yes, a written contract between you and the care giver is a good idea, even if it's informal), you then can choose a safe place to meet face to face.

 

You both should come away from an agreement feeling like you got what you were looking for. If you can't work together on the initial agreement, then you probably won't last long together anyway.

 

If I'm missing something, chime in now!

[Highlander]

For what it is worth, I've met and talked with many prospective patients who want free meds - not because they can't afford meds but because they expect the caregiver to grow more than needed and sell the overages at a farmers market, to a dispensary, or to some other patient the CG isn't registered to. So patients should be conscious of what they expect from a CG.

 

For anyone who really can't afford meds, I think most CGs would respond well with a little bit of explanation, like "I can't afford to pay a dime but I really need these meds. I'm on SSDI so any cost for meds are out-of-pocket, and I just can't afford it."

 

I've run the full range of plant numbers...growing only for myself and for any number of patients between one and five. Right now I grow for myself and three patients. It would be very little additional work/cost for me to grow for another patient. Most of the added work/time to sign-up a new patient would be, first, the time involved with trimming meds, and second, making deliveries.

 

So a word of advice to the truly indigent patient. Go ahead and ask for free meds, but maybe also say that you can dry and trim your own meds and seek a local CG to minimize delivery time/cost for the CG or be willing to make the trip yourself.

 

Growing doesn't take a lot of time, trimming does. So maybe find a CG who is willing to provide untrimmed meds, which you pick up yourself. Better yet, offer something of value back to the CG. Maybe you're disabled but could steer the lawn tractor for two hours around his yard once a week? Maybe you're at a point where you can't work anymore but once a month you could prepare an awesome stew in a slow cooker or once a week you can peel and slice vegetables for a health salad.

 

Be creative and seek mutually- beneficial relationships.