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8 years ago I had to make the decision to have my mom live with me and my husband because the country where she lived all her life (Venezuela) has become one of the worst hell holes in the world and it's obviously not a place for a woman her age, specially since she's divorced and doesn't have any siblings or family members around. It's only me and my sister (and my sister has made it crystal clear that she doesn't want to share the responsibility of taking care of our mom).


Ever since my mom moved to the US (she was 64 when she moved in with us), she hasn't been able to work (even though she's fully legal), which means she doesn't have any social security income (because she doesn't have any working history in the US), and no savings.


Me and my husband have reached the point where we just can't have her living with us anymore; she can barely move, can barely go up and down the stairs, there's something wrong with her eyesight (she's seeing double and the doctors are still trying to figure out what's causing this), she's very dizzy all the time, has a lot of trouble hearing, her memory is pretty bad, has chronic asthma (has been hospitalized 4 times in the last few months)....and these are only a few of the problems we have to face everyday.


I really need her to move to an assisted living facility but I don't know what to do because MediCal (we live in California) will only cover a portion of the assisted living rent and she's responsible to pay for the rest (aprox $1200 per month), which in most cases will be paid using the social security income, which she doesn't have and I clearly can't pay an extra $1200 per month on top of my existing mortgage.


What options do I have? Someone please guide us.


Thanks.

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Apply for SSI, Supplemental Security Income thru the Social Security Administration, 1-800-772-1213 or online at ssa.gov.
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Shane1124 Jul 2020
Please read the post. OP mom does not qualify for SS due to non completion of required work quarters.
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Maybe you need to find a cheaper house and then you can pay moms share of costs.
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subakuatik Jul 2020
thank you for the suggestion
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I agree she seems too far along for AL and also that she needs an evaluation, Next time she is hospitalized you need to ask about discharge and say that you cannot look after her any longer. Then they are obliged to find her a suitable facility.
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subakuatik Jul 2020
that's a good idea, thank you
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The only financial assistance for Assisted Living is the Medicaid waiver that only covers *some* of the costs. Assisted Livings are NOT ALL private pay. In some states, that may be the case but it’s certainly not true of all states and it’s not true in California.

You’ll have to either come up with an extra $1200 a month or start looking for assisted livings elsewhere. There’s no way to fully fund it on the tax payers dime. The cost of AL varies through out the state. If you really must put her in AL, you might have to move her hours away from you. Otherwise you’ll have to wait until she qualifies for a nursing home. Have you had her evaluated for long term care yet? She could qualify for a nursing home now.
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subakuatik Jul 2020
Hi worriedinCali,

Thank you for all this info, I already looked into an AL facility that was about 3 hours away from where we live, but the cost came down to aprox $1000 per month (which I can't afford on top of my already existing mortgage). I was told by one of the medical social services coordinators that MediCal would cover ALL the costs of AL, but after contacting the NorCal Coordinators agency that works with AL facilities that are part of the Medicaid Waiver program, they told me that was not the case.

I'm really worried because my mom has a way of speaking to the doctors that makes it sound like there's nothing wrong with her and that she's having a great time. She did this when she was hospitalized, she kept telling the nurses and the doctors that she felt like she was in a 5 star hotel and that the meals were amazing.....So I don't know what it will be like when they evaluate her for long term care..

Do you know what's the process of having her evaluated for long term care?. Should I contact her PCP first?

Thanks again!
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You need to have Mom evaluated by a doctor and have him say she needs 24/7 care. I was hoping Worried would chime in because she seems to understand MediCal. I never listen to SWs or hospital staff. I always go to the PCP.
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subakuatik Jul 2020
thank you, I'll try to have her PCP evaluate her (she's really hard to reach and MediCal is always switching out her PCP every year, so it's been a struggle having someone who's very familiar with her health condition).
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Yes, as Joann stated, ALs are all private pay. I'm not from CA but why don't you go on MediCal website to see what info they have about qualifications for financial assistance for long term care (nursing home).
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subakuatik Jul 2020
I talked to a representative from Medical when my mom was hospitalized (she was at the hospital everyday checking the status of my mom and evaluating her case) and she basically told me that my mom does not qualify for a nursing home through the MediCal program because her condition doesn't meet the criteria.
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ALs are private pay. Since she has been here 8 yrs, MediCal may cover her care in a LTC facility. We do have some Members from California that maybe able to give you more info.

When it comes to SS, your Mom never would have collected it even if she worked the 8 yrs here. You have to work 10 years (40 qtrs) to collect SS.
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subakuatik Jul 2020
Hello JoAnn, thank you for your reply and for all the info, it's very helpful. I'll await answers from the members that live in California to learn what else can be done.

Thank you.
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