My husband who has Alzheimer's fell and broke his hip a few weeks ago. He was taken to hospital, operated on, and on the third day there was transferred to a very good nursing home for rehab. He's now been in rehab three weeks and still can't stand on his own, let alone walk. They use a lift to transfer him from bed to chair etc. In the meantime, I have had my lawyer file for medicaid for him. We do not have any money to pay for him to stay in long term care. The NH has asked me to pick out a few other nursing homes to transfer him to because they state they do NOT accept medicaid waiting patients. I'm very upset as this place is less than a mile from our home and I visit him every day. He's 81 and I'm 75. I don't want to put him some place where I have to drive 1/2 or so to visit, especially in the winter. Also, this place has 5 stars. I've been very happy having him there. I'm feeling very pressured and worried now. Our medicare managed health plan does not want to pay any more toward his stay there in rehab. Mostly because of his dementia, which has gotten a lot worse since his fall. I think the move will send him further downhill mentally. Any advice?
Care facilities are not required to accept Medicaid payments. Medicaid pays less than they charge self-pay residents, so of course not all facilities are willing to do that.
I hope another NH near you will accept your husband.
Also, call the discharge office at the hospital and talk to the planner who told you that would work with you.
You were not naive.
I'll have to go somewhere temporarily until a Medicaid bed is available at one of my original choices.