Mom (95) is in spend down. Does anyone know how much Medicaid help ($) people can get if they want to remain at home or living with family? Ballpark or a range is fine. I'm just trying to get an idea.
Thank you all for your answers. I will be seeing an elder law attorney soon to discuss the care agreement, and I now feel more informed as to what questions to ask. It's quite overwhelming. But it's helpful to know what to expect, and what not to expect. And I will check out whether PACE is here. Thank you!
As others have posted the needs assessment is central to determining hrs the state will pay for an outside caregiver from agency or pay family if your state has a IHHS that allows payment to family.
CA has IHHS program and based on what others have posted the in the home paid family CG is paid slightly above minimum wage for your area and it is fully reported with taxes & FICA with 20 hrs a week average. There will be a limit to the # of hours allowed. If they get assessed to need over 36/40 hrs a week, they’ll likely be assessed to need skilled care in a facility with 24/7 oversight. So watch what you wish for in # of hours.
You might want to see if there is a PACE program in your city. If so, they might be assessed and determined to be placed at the PACE center 2 - 4 days a week with transportation provided by PACE. For PACE, they need to be “duals” that is on Medicare and Medicaid BUT it would be for community based Medicaid which has different & higher income & asset limits than for in facility LTC Medicaid which basically requires them to be impoverished with a max of 2k in nonexempt assets.
If she is in spend down Medicaid will pay nothing until her resources are down to the state set limit. She could pay you from her own pocket but you need a care agreement prior to being paid. An elder law attorney can draft the agreement so it is in compliance with Medicaid rules.
I think the max is 9 hours pay per day, even if they are completely helpless. And even if you are there 24/7 ... they will only cover 9. So depending on what the pay scale is where you live, and what level of care is needed -medical- or basic daily living activities type of care giving- (non medical.) You can find out where to apply through medicaid. After you apply a separate social worker will then come to your home and help determine how many hours of paid help can be approved - depending on what your loved one can and can not do for themselves .... Hope that helps.
Thank you very much, tacy and worried, for giving me some insight into this. I don't know what all the exact needs will be when the time comes. Currently I take care of my Mom; she lives with my husband and me. She has Parkinson's and some mobility issues, but is oriented x3 and has retained her sweet personality. I hire in agency HHAs for 10 hours per week so my husband and I can get out together, more hours if I have appointments to get to. I work from home doing editing and translating. It's not easy to concentrate and I only average 15-20 hrs per week. I am at the point (emotionally and certainly financially) where I want to get out in the real world and work at least part-time. Mom is against the idea of adult day care; there is one near here but everyone is at some stage of dementia, so I don't see that as the environment for her, at this stage anyway. Other family members have no interest in the day to day. Sister comes sometimes on Sunday afternoons for 5-6 hours. Brother lives 30 miles away and has not visited since April; has not called since June/July. I am starting to think about Medicaid because Mom's assets (proceeds from August house sale minus reverse mortgage and credit card debt (from hiring in HHAs for 18 months)) will probably be gone within 6 months, faster if I start working out of the home and have to hire in help. Frankly, I know it sounds selfish, but my main concern after her money is gone is keeping my sanity!
there is no ball park range. It depends on the Medicaid program, whether it’s a voucher or not. Or what they approve her for. Generally in home caregiving is done on an hourly basis and Medicaid determines how many hours she’s eligible for. You may or may not have to find and hire the caregivers.
CA has IHHS program and based on what others have posted the in the home paid family CG is paid slightly above minimum wage for your area and it is fully reported with taxes & FICA with 20 hrs a week average. There will be a limit to the # of hours allowed. If they get assessed to need over 36/40 hrs a week, they’ll likely be assessed to need skilled care in a facility with 24/7 oversight. So watch what you wish for in # of hours.
You might want to see if there is a PACE program in your city. If so, they might be assessed and determined to be placed at the PACE center 2 - 4 days a week with transportation provided by PACE. For PACE, they need to be “duals” that is on Medicare and Medicaid BUT it would be for community based Medicaid which has different & higher income & asset limits than for in facility LTC Medicaid which basically requires them to be impoverished with a max of 2k in nonexempt assets.
You can find out where to apply through medicaid. After you apply a separate social worker will then come to your home and help determine how many hours of paid help can be approved - depending on what your loved one can and can not do for themselves .... Hope that helps.