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There's no money (only a monthly SS check). She's been in the assisted living residence for only 3 weeks. She wandered away from her home last month, so we had to place her there. We hired part-time care for her during the day before she walked away. The balance of her new housing bill is coming out of pocket for my sister and me. Getting benefits for VA Aid & Attendance for veteran's survivors is going to take a long time! We cannot afford to do this long term.

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sdavis, a nursing home or continuing care facility is not the wrong solution if your Aunt has dementia to a point where she is wandering away from home.

By the way, you and your sister should NOT be footing the bill for your Aunt's care. If your Aunt has limited income, get her approved for Medicaid... Medicaid will help with the cost of a nursing home. Otherwise, you and your sister will be wiping out your own savings and have nothing left for your own care.
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Your Aunt is way past the requirement age to start looking for long term care insurances. One needs to start buying said insurance when they are in their 40's and 50's.

See if your Aunt could qualify for Medicaid, which would be able to help pay for nursing home care.
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Im so sorry. The only thing I can think of is Medicaid. It depends on your state though how long it will take to qualify. I am so sorry.
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Find out if the facility takes medicaid. Start the application process regardless of the answer.
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LTC has to be purchased long before you are 80 and long before there is a need, by about 20 years. If she is wandering, she is not safe in Assisted Living and will need memory care soon. If she is the widow of a wartime veteran, VA can help her but they only assist with $1100 a month. Even with that, she will need Medicaid to pick up the difference.
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Thanks for your responses, everyone! We have a long road ahead of us. My aunt is not physically sick so a nursing home seems like the wrong solution for her. time will tell, I guess thanks again!
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You have all convinced me that Medicaid is the way to go! And, that a continuing care facility might be the best option for my aunt. We will apply for the VA benefit and start our search for a new home (this place does not accept Medicaid). Thanks so much for the help. God bless you all! 🙏
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Hello sdavis3743, I just wanted to mention, if your aunt remarried someone who wasn't a vet she won't get that pension.
I went to a seminar about this aid and the two lawyers BOTH said "it doesn't matter that she remarried" After her husband passed away and I put her in a retirement home, the manager assured me that he had people or a person getting it in same circumstances. Not so. I was disgusted and depressed for weeks! We were really depending on that. I help my mom with $300. or so every month. When her savings is gone we will have to turn to Medicaid as well.
If she wasn't settled in there and everyone aware of her needs, I wouldn't have been able to keep her there. I had to rent a medicine machine that she couldn't manipulate and that tells her when it's time for meds.
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Hi Donna1944, Thanks so much for responding. I am so sorry to hear what you've been going through. My aunt never remarried, so we will move forward with applying for A&A for spouses. So many people are suffering and it breaks my heart. You are a very caring person to help your mom so much. Be blessed and I pray that things get better for you and mom.
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