MovieChat Forums > My 600-lb Life (2012) Discussion > Erica's going and staying in Houston

Erica's going and staying in Houston

posted 8 years ago by BugisStreetAnnie
8 replies | jump to latest

I wonder since her family didn't want to take her to Houston why didn't she have a caregiver that would do that. Many of the other patients have them even though it's nearly always a family member, but I know they do have them who aren't family. I had an aunt who had live-ins that weren't relatives.

[–] hutsol386 8 years ago

Because they do it for free. I guess she can not really afford it too.

[–] alleycat-10365 8 years ago

Because they do it for free. I guess she can not really afford it too.

I think Medicaid pays them and that's why they do it. I noticed Erica had one when she was in Houston but she didn't appear to stay with her 24/7, but I'm guessing she was around long enough to buy her food and other things even though they never showed her doing that because Erica certainly couldn't have gone out and done those things especially since she didn't have a car or get around that well.

[–] rpressley 8 years ago

Her family is not responsible for ericas problem! Erica did it to herself!!

[–] acand187-2 8 years ago

Rpressley...You, me and Syn84 seem to be on the same page. It's not as if all this just suddenly happened to Erica, and she is looking for help. It's clear Erica has spent years not only eating herself to death, but making attempts to get better, only to quit.

I certainly don't condone people being treated cruelly, but I'm trying to look at this from her family's perspective. I would imagine it's much like what families of drug addicts go through. At some point for the families, it has to be physically and mentally exhausting, and there comes a time when they just can't do it anymore.

That's the vibe I got from Erica's siblings. Her brother did seem genuinely happy for her when she had that first weigh in. Perhaps if she really sticks to it this time, and gets herself better, her relationship with her sister will improve.

My feet have wings, barf bag.

[–] BugisStreetAnnie 8 years ago

Her family is not responsible for ericas problem

True, that's why I wonder why she didn't have a paid caregiver going with her. She did say she didn't want to be around strangers so that may explain it.

Back in the '70s my aunt and uncle had live-in caregivers and they stayed with them longer than 6 months that Erica was asking her brother to do by going to Houston with her. I'm not sure if they paid for the caregivers or their medical insurance did, or maybe it was a little of both. They would take them to doctors and hospitals in other towns, though, and none of them were from the small town where my aunt and uncle lived so they were obviously traveling or floating as PCA's.

[–] holchie 8 years ago

Erica was able to get up and move around, so she could have done many things by herself, but she didn't. So I don't think she would have qualified for a full-time caregiver. She ordered food to be delivered, but I seriously doubt they came in and served her, so she had to somehow get to the door and carry the food in before she sat down and ate it. If she could do that, she could do some light housekeeping and certainly look after herself. You can shop on the internet for just about everything and have it delivered to your door. She didn't seem helpless to me, other than not being able to drive herself.

[–] NeedAnswers 8 years ago

I don't think she could have gotten around on her own for much of any day with that one foot of hers. It was swollen and really painful to walk on. If she didn't have that issue, maybe, but not as is.

[–] rpressley 8 years ago

As a nurse I do know this;
Medicaid does not pay for immediate family to care for the patient.
A caregiver can only work in the state which he/she is currently working in