Should I start looking around for financial help now or wait until it's critical?
My mom is rapidly going down. She lives with me. She only has social security. I will not be able to do full time care and I am on social security too. In Florida.
It always best to start earlier rather than later. The help of a elder law attorney that specializes in medicaid is crucial. There are a lot of things you can do that won't be apparent. They do this everyday. You may even have a elder law non-profit center around you. I would check.
A word of advice - no matter what the subject is, ALWAYS START CHECKING THINGS OUT WELL BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS. Why? Because you will be well prepared when something happens and something needs to be done. You won't necessarily go into a panic mode because now you know what to do and how to do it. As to your situation, by all means, start questioning and investigating all options given your circumstances. Get prepared what can be done. it will bring you some peace. NEVER WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS!
Start as soon as possible. Medicaid has a waiting period and you will need lots of time to complete the application process as well as gathering all documentation needed. My mother did not get "qualified" well in advance so please do not wait until it is needed. The process is lengthy. Also, contact your local Area on Aging and Disability for assistance at home. igloo572 is exactly right.
You may either have to turn her over to another family member who's more financially stable or release her to a facility. The best way to get more money is to have another income such as a part-time job or you can sell stuff on eBay.
I would start looking around now, you don't want to be without options when you need it. Medicaid, medicare, social security x help program are a few. Good luck.
I'd make an appointment with moms MD ASAP. Do a list of all the concerns or limitations mom has & recent changes. To get into a NH, mom is going to need orders from her MD as to "skilled nursing care needed" along with documentation in her chart. If not NH needed, then orders for at-home care. Knowing which puts you in the right direction as to what program to go after for her that meets her needs.
Most ALs are private pay unless the AL is on a Medicaid waiver program that have an open & available bed. Most AL seem to want a couple of years of private pay before a medicaid bed opens up. That doesn't sound like an option for you all. You may find that the best situation will be to get her qualified for a Medicaid bed at a NH if you cannot provide the caregiving at home for her beyond whatever at-home program can do. Which means getting orders for skilled nursing care from an MD.
Most NH admits come from a hospitalization... Like 60-70%. They get discharged to a NH with a rehab unit & all is being covered by Medicare for a short period of time & then they end up staying at the NH & applying for Medicaid to pay for their continued LTC at the NH once they are under Medicaid's financial limits They have a fat medical chart so qualify medically easily. But for those living at home, they are going to have to show to be "at need" for care which means doctors orders for skilled nursing care. Going from living at home or IL to a NH and bypassing a hospitalization or AL can be done. I did it for my mom. But it may mean creatively working with moms MDs to show her to be "at need" for a NH.
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Most ALs are private pay unless the AL is on a Medicaid waiver program that have an open & available bed. Most AL seem to want a couple of years of private pay before a medicaid bed opens up. That doesn't sound like an option for you all. You may find that the best situation will be to get her qualified for a Medicaid bed at a NH if you cannot provide the caregiving at home for her beyond whatever at-home program can do. Which means getting orders for skilled nursing care from an MD.
Most NH admits come from a hospitalization... Like 60-70%. They get discharged to a NH with a rehab unit & all is being covered by Medicare for a short period of time & then they end up staying at the NH & applying for Medicaid to pay for their continued LTC at the NH once they are under Medicaid's financial limits They have a fat medical chart so qualify medically easily.
But for those living at home, they are going to have to show to be "at need" for care which means doctors orders for skilled nursing care. Going from living at home or IL to a NH and bypassing a hospitalization or AL can be done. I did it for my mom. But it may mean creatively working with moms MDs to show her to be "at need" for a NH.
Let us know what her doc says.
Plus, it'll give you more time to get your head round all the options. So start looking now.