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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Start by calling the Area Agency on Aging to request an assessment.
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.
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.
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.
See All Answers