I take care of my 84 year old incontinent mother and I took care of my father before he passed from lung cancer. My mother has to have round the clock care and cannot stay home alone. She pays high rent and a share of cost for her care and then there is nothing left. I did not come here to take care of her for the MONEY but for her so she could have a little dignity left after losing all of the other things that meant so much to her. I do get paid for 93 hours every two weeks but I am her full time nurse, daughter and friend.. yes I need money to survive and pay our bills that she cant possibly pay. She has nothing but a little self respect left and I ensure she keeps that by taking care of her.IHSS was a God send to us when we needed it most, allowing me to be here working for her instead of being somewhere else not taking care of my mother . Allowing her to stay in a place where she feels safe and is loved. I wont get rich on IHSS but instead can afford to pay what needs to be payed and take care of my mother. I get about 4 hours sleep a night and am barely making it on \what I earn. If you never were in my position then you have no idea what its like, what stress we care givers deal with every day and what we GIVE to our loved ones and elderly by being here for them when they need us most. I do get a good feeling taking care of her and that should be enough but she has no money and I have to work because I don't have the money we need if I don't work. It's a catch 22......You do what you need to do to make sure your loved ones have dignity the last years of their life, every breath they take is important to you and every little smile you get when things are looking bad is worth all the heartache and hard work. Even if they take the help away I will still be here to walk her through what little time she has left and hold her hand and make it easier for her when that time comes. God Bless all the care providers that give so much to our elderly when others want to put them away in a strange place and forget about what they were and who they are.