My uncle had a severe stroke that left him w/ cognitive impairments, memory loss, vision impairments, muscle weakness, limited mobility, and the inability to move right arm/hand. He went home to live w/ his son (who he was taking care of because the son never had a job/income or license) after he maxed out his nursing home stay (Medicare wouldn't pay anymore). The son has him on wait lists for all nursing/assisted living homes w/i 40 miles that take Medicare and Medicaid (only income is $950 Social Security (was around $3000 when working up to the day he had the stroke a few months ago at age 76), Food Stamps, no bank accounts, car was repossessed).The son has hit, pushed, swore at, and refused to care for his father. After many calls to Dept for Elderly Abuse (from neighbors, church, doctors) a social worker from the state finally stepped in-- nothing was said about the abuse, just that the son had too many cats (8), the place stinks, "is nasty," and is not livable (due to damage from cats, mold, no working tub/shower, leaky roof, no heat) so she is going to have the place condemned and says they "need to be out of there". I can't take him in because my landlord won't let me (already have 2 adults and 3 kids in a 2 bedroom). There's no other living relatives.
What now? How long does it take to get a place condemned? How long before they have to be out?
Would the State really just refuse to help the abuse situation and kick him out (he owns the home- paid in cash by a relative many years ago) and make him homeless?
He needs someone to administer his medicine, feed him, help him manage his diabetes, help him dress, help him bathe, and supervise him so he doesn't hurt himself or go out and get lost.
It seems all resources have been exhausted (211, Catholic Charities, social workers, churches, Dept Health & Human Services, etc).
Help?
Forget about the house, if it was sold it would only go to spend down. Since there is a relative in the house there may be an exception. Sounds like abusive son is going to need to find a job, he is about to lose the old man's SS, possibly the home and food stamps. Remember when uncle goes to.a Medicare home, so does the SS check.
I do hope you get him placed soon. Good luck.
I agree with 'Eyerishlass' – With your uncle's many health conditions (and considering how far you've already gone to try to find him a suitable placement), I'd be tempted to take him to the ER, especially since his blood sugar is likely out of whack. Once there, make it clear that there is no one at home to care for him and that you know his home to be dangerously unlivable.
I can hear ER nurses groaning at this, but let's face it, this is health care in America. We even had a presidential candidate admit that the ER is America's family doctor!
The fact is, that once in the ER, the path to placement can be much smoother. You could take him to his doctor to try to accomplish the same thing, but it would almost certainly be a much slower process.
By the way...I wish people would stop assuming that the 'county home' is some kind of snake pit. In my county, it's one of the better SNFs. It's obviously not as fancy, but the care is absolutely on par with the nicer SNFs in the area.