Call the Medicaid office in your state. Rules vary by state. Where I am, you don't get AL from Medicaid benefits. You have to have some wealth to pay for it for any considerable length of time. Here, Medicaid would get you a NH bed (if income and resources, like bank accounts, property separate from the homestead/primary residence) are below the $2000 (for a single person) limit. Limit is a little higher if one person goes into NH and spouse remains in the home.
My parents sold their home and moved into a complex that had independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing facility and rehabilitation. No memory care which wasn’t needed for them, but a good addition for these communities. They moved into IL when my mom was 90 and my dad was 92. Mom had trouble adjusting to the smaller living space and just when she started to make friends, she died in the SNF portion of the complex. They moved initially because my dad and mom could no longer care for themselves. It was my dad’s idea to move. My dad lived in IL for another four years until moving to AL and the facility fee was dropped because he had paid it for the IL arrangement.
After seeing all my parents went through by living in a facility and all the changes you have to make to adhere to all the rules, I am determined to age in place and hire out home care as needed, but life is often hard to plan.
Personally, I would rather sell my home than give everything to Medicaid. If selling is an option, she will have more flexibility where she lives. If she can age in place with minimal help, I also think that’s better than Medicaid.
if you are able to move her into AL, do your due diligence in finding a good place. Interview the facility and check your state’s Department of Health website for ratings of facilities. The Internet can help you with asking the best questions. Don’t believe the facility’s website reviews.
Thank you for helping your mom with these difficult decisions. You should look at becoming her medical and financial Power of Attorney as that will be helpful as she ages and more services are needed. You can get the forms for your state off of the Internet. Also, she will need a Living Will and her doctor will have that form.
This site is awesome and will help you in this journey. Best of luck for both of you. It can be challenging.
Carriebx: Perhaps your mother will have to opt for a nursing home since #1 There are no funds, #2 She will have to apply for Medicaid and #3 Most assisted living facilities do not accept Medicaid.
Call your county office of aged and disabilities. They will be able to give you the answers you need.
If your mom can become Medicaid eligible, don’t wait until all her money is spent down. You would want to place her someplace that takes self pay and transitions to Medicaid. Preferably someplace that also has a memory care if she were to need that.
I used an Independent care advisor 3 times to place my mom and in laws. Google it and get someone local who can meet with you for tours etc. they will know the area, cost, your needs, reputation. They get you in the door. In my mom‘s case when I moved her from Arizona to here she only had about 10 months of self pay. The memory care I was putting her into excepted her with the condition that she would not have the year ofself-pay. It was The business relationship Between the memory care in my care advisors company that facilitated that. But it’s important to have a place that one take Medicaid. My choices were limited because my mother only had one year . most facilities want two or three years of self-pay. I used a company here called CarePatrol , they are franchise. Perhaps there’s one near you.
My county office of aging and disabilities and I were in the process of getting my mom on Medicaid, but she passed two months prior. A blessing for all.
Yeah, that's about right. And, if you were to pay for Nursing Home Care, it would cost about $10 grand/month, or more, with what you are describing. Two or more to a room with single beds, two to four to a bathroom. Sorry. This is probably the best you can get. Medicaid will cover it, after they take down whatever other resources she has.
My mother is paying for it by selling her home to supplement her monthly income from Social Security and retirement savings. She’s hoping that will be enough to cover the cost as long as she lives. In my state assisted living is private pay only; if her money runs out she’ll have to move to a facility that accepts Medicaid.
Those answering seem to be interchanging and mis-using terms confusing the issue. A “Nursing home” is NOT Assisted Living. Nursing homes are generally able to be avoided now days. They are expensive. But if you place your love one in a Residential Home licensed as an elderly home, you can bypass Nursing homes. And then when “nursing” types care is needed the nurse comes to the patient. Also as the love one becomes more unhealthy then you put them on hospice which is often free or low priced compared to nursing homes. Nursing homes and long term care are suppose to be for medical care to make the person better. But I’d they will not ever get better then there is no treatment especially if they have an advanced medical directive to not prolong life.
Aasisted living is very different than Nursing home. Assisted living is for love ones who just need some assistance like taking medicines, walking, dressing, bathing, incontinence like diapers, laundry but not a lot of serious medical that require ongoing medical care.
The smart work around to avoid nursing homes is to place in Assisted living. Then if they fall or have a temp medical issue they go to about two to four weeks paid by Medicare into those facilities free to get better.
After stable or better like with a broken hip for example, to assisted living or go to Residential Care in a home. Those are less expensive than assisted care.
Then have nurses come into Residential care for medical issues. Saves you trips to doctors also. Then as worse get palliative care or hospice. These are for more than just pre-death.
Daphne, I see you are very new here. Most of the above information is correct. Nursing home are still needed by many and are often the only alternative when someone runs out of money.
Rules vary by state and making broad generalizations just doesn't work when talking about any type of long term residential facilities and care. Heck the names of types of facilities is even different between states.
Someone here states Medicaid and Medical do not pay for Assisted Living. That is FALSE. My the mere fact yourbliveobe needs ASSISTANCE their living expense becomes a medical expense. Doctor can sign off on this to certified love one needs assisted living due to a disability like dimentia, cannot walk, and countless other things. Being being disabled, the love one becomes eligible. I’d love one does not need assisted living then Medicaid and Medical do not pay for it. Hope this clarifies for the other well meaning but incorrect poster.
In addition to the excellent advice already received I would ask my congressional representative for help. I have seen first hand how a phone call or text from our congress person speeded everything along.
Just because you run out of money does Medicaid. There is criteria and a process. The NH maybe able to help you get started, but I would not rely on them to carry thru.
In my State ur only allowed 90days after you apply to spend down any money, get them info needed and find a Medicaid LTC facility. In my instance Mom was in an AL and money was running out. (You do not wait until the money runs out to apply for Medicaid) I started the Medicaid application in April. Mom was placed in LTC May 1st. She had 20k that paid for her care for May and June. This is how I spent down her money. That two months gave me time to get Medicaid the info needed. June I confirmed that Mom was spent down and all info needed received. July 1st, Medicaid started.
A home and a car are exempt assets. The problem in having them is once on Medicaid her SS and any pension she receives will be needed to offset the cost of her care. So there will be no money for upkeep on the house and the car.
Criteria depends on the State u live in. In the State of NJ your assets can be no more than 2k. You monthly income (SS, Pension, Annuity, ect) can be no more than $2,382. In some States there are Miller/Qualifying Income Trusts (UIT) that any income over that goes into the trust. When the person passes, the trust reverts back to Medicaid. My Mom fell way under the NJ income level.
ALs cost 5k and up a month. 5k for Mom was 5 years ago. Cost of living has risen since then. There just was a post that an AL raised their rates 8% and then 20%. If your Mom has any money put away, I suggest you find a nice LTC/NH/SNF and use that money till it runs out. And 3 months before it does, apply for Medicaid. If there is a house, as said its exempt but it also can be sold (must be at Market value if Medicaid ever needed) and the proceeds will pay for Moms care. My Mom did start out in an AL using Dads life insurance to pay for the AL. Its when the money was running out that I placed her in LTC using what was left to get her in there.
I work for an Agency on Aging in NW Illinois. Original Medicare and Medigap (supplementals) do not cover nursing facility care. Original does for a short time after a hospital stay. Some Advantage Plans "might" have some type of coverage but it depends on the policy. Everyone who goes into a nursing facility begins on private pay. When private pay runs out, the nursing home will apply for Medicaid for the resident. Please call the Agency on Aging for your Mom's county and talk to an agent who can better answer your questions for your Mom's care based on where she lives. Hope this helps.
Don’t forget Veterans Aid and Assistance if your Mom is a veteran and/or was married to one. There are specific rules around eligibility but it is worth checking out.
You need to have mom go to a facility that accepts Medicaid. Contact a social worker specializing in geriatrics. Usually you can get help from your local Agency on Aging.
As said, AL is generally private pay. Some States do have wavers. My State may pay after at least paying for 2 yrs in an AL.
It also will depend on Moms needs. ALs are limited to what they are capable of doing. The name says it all "Assisted". The person has to be able to do certain things for themselves. There is no skilled nursing. If Mom has a Dementia, she probably would be placed in Memory care but still no skilled nursing.
If money is a problem, there is Medicaid and Longterm care.
Need to know what state she lives in and what her care challenges are (physical, cognitive, both).
In most states Medicaid does not pay for AL (I think MI and NY are exceptions but not certain).
You should also contact social services through your Mom's county Dept of Health and Human Resources and talk to a social worker. Your Mom can get assessed for in-home services, but it won't cover everything and won't be full-time.
After seeing all my parents went through by living in a facility and all the changes you have to make to adhere to all the rules, I am determined to age in place and hire out home care as needed, but life is often hard to plan.
Personally, I would rather sell my home than give everything to Medicaid. If selling is an option, she will have more flexibility where she lives. If she can age in place with minimal help, I also think that’s better than Medicaid.
if you are able to move her into AL, do your due diligence in finding a good place. Interview the facility and check your state’s Department of Health website for ratings of facilities. The Internet can help you with asking the best questions. Don’t believe the facility’s website reviews.
Thank you for helping your mom with these difficult decisions. You should look at becoming her medical and financial Power of Attorney as that will be helpful as she ages and more services are needed. You can get the forms for your state off of the Internet. Also, she will need a Living Will and her doctor will have that form.
This site is awesome and will help you in this journey. Best of luck for both of you. It can be challenging.
If your mom can become Medicaid eligible, don’t wait until all her money is spent down. You would want to place her someplace that takes self pay and transitions to Medicaid. Preferably someplace that also has a memory care if she were to need that.
I used an Independent care advisor 3 times to place my mom and in laws. Google it and get someone local who can meet with you for tours etc. they will know the area, cost, your needs, reputation. They get you in the door. In my mom‘s case when I moved her from Arizona to here she only had about 10 months of self pay. The memory care I was putting her into excepted her with the condition that she would not have the year ofself-pay. It was The business relationship Between the memory care in my care advisors company that facilitated that. But it’s important to have a place that one take Medicaid. My choices were limited because my mother only had one year . most facilities want two or three years of self-pay. I used a company here called CarePatrol , they are franchise. Perhaps there’s one near you.
My county office of aging and disabilities and I were in the process of getting my mom on Medicaid, but she passed two months prior. A blessing for all.
Aasisted living is very different than Nursing home. Assisted living is for love ones who just need some assistance like taking medicines, walking, dressing, bathing, incontinence like diapers, laundry but not a lot of serious medical that require ongoing medical care.
The smart work around to avoid nursing homes is to place in Assisted living. Then if they fall or have a temp medical issue they go to about two to four weeks paid by Medicare into those facilities free to get better.
After stable or better like with a broken hip for example, to assisted living or go to Residential Care in a home. Those are less expensive than assisted care.
Then have nurses come into Residential care for medical issues. Saves you trips to doctors also. Then as worse get palliative care or hospice. These are for more than just pre-death.
Rules vary by state and making broad generalizations just doesn't work when talking about any type of long term residential facilities and care. Heck the names of types of facilities is even different between states.
In my State ur only allowed 90days after you apply to spend down any money, get them info needed and find a Medicaid LTC facility.
In my instance Mom was in an AL and money was running out. (You do not wait until the money runs out to apply for Medicaid) I started the Medicaid application in April. Mom was placed in LTC May 1st. She had 20k that paid for her care for May and June. This is how I spent down her money. That two months gave me time to get Medicaid the info needed. June I confirmed that Mom was spent down and all info needed received. July 1st, Medicaid started.
A home and a car are exempt assets. The problem in having them is once on Medicaid her SS and any pension she receives will be needed to offset the cost of her care. So there will be no money for upkeep on the house and the car.
Criteria depends on the State u live in. In the State of NJ your assets can be no more than 2k. You monthly income (SS, Pension, Annuity, ect) can be no more than $2,382. In some States there are Miller/Qualifying Income Trusts (UIT) that any income over that goes into the trust. When the person passes, the trust reverts back to Medicaid. My Mom fell way under the NJ income level.
ALs cost 5k and up a month. 5k for Mom was 5 years ago. Cost of living has risen since then. There just was a post that an AL raised their rates 8% and then 20%. If your Mom has any money put away, I suggest you find a nice LTC/NH/SNF and use that money till it runs out. And 3 months before it does, apply for Medicaid. If there is a house, as said its exempt but it also can be sold (must be at Market value if Medicaid ever needed) and the proceeds will pay for Moms care. My Mom did start out in an AL using Dads life insurance to pay for the AL. Its when the money was running out that I placed her in LTC using what was left to get her in there.
It also will depend on Moms needs. ALs are limited to what they are capable of doing. The name says it all "Assisted". The person has to be able to do certain things for themselves. There is no skilled nursing. If Mom has a Dementia, she probably would be placed in Memory care but still no skilled nursing.
If money is a problem, there is Medicaid and Longterm care.
In most states Medicaid does not pay for AL (I think MI and NY are exceptions but not certain).
You should also contact social services through your Mom's county Dept of Health and Human Resources and talk to a social worker. Your Mom can get assessed for in-home services, but it won't cover everything and won't be full-time.
Start by calling the Area Agency on Aging to request an assessment.