Unemployed Caretaker

by Susan
(H.B, Calif. USA)

My father is 85 and in pretty good shape. His sight is not that great, he no longer drives and needs help. I became unemployed 2 years ago and then my dad had a bad fall in the park with his walking group.

I live close so I took care of him. Then a couple of months later he had to have his prostate removed. So for a while he was really having a rough time. During these times I had hired a caregiver to help when I wasn't there. Boy was my father pissed! Now that he's better there's no way he's going to put up with outside care coming in to help.

I don't mind helping but my unemployment benefits are due to run out in Jan, my problem is that even though I'm doing legitimate work for my father I feel a little guilty wanting to be paid for it?

If I hire someone we'd have to pay them anyway and for help that's just not as good and that makes my father uncomfortable when we could just hire me for cheaper and he'd get better service and I'd have a legitimate job and my self worth back! Is that wrong?