My mom is 73 and has been living with me for about a year and a half. It’s getting too hard for me as I am disabled as well. I tried assisted living for about 3 months. They were trying to charge for extra care and she could not afford it. She does not have Medicare as of yet. She makes around $3000 a month but the homes are expensive. We live in Urbana Ohio. Any help would be greatly appreciated
you don’t live wealthy but everything else is covered like meals and food and laundry and visits from doctors that accept Medicaid like a podiatrist for free toenails clipping and dental hygienist comes in to clean our teeth for free thanks to Medicaid.
As a result I don’t pay co-pays or deductibles. I’m covered 100% of medical including dental and dentures. Neither pay for implants.
I’m also covered for existing conditions. It’s not an advantage plan which I refer to them as dis-advantage plans as they get you in the end. It’s good for young healthy people.
You had an experience with ONE assisted living community. And they were probably letting you know that your mom's care needs exceeded what they are normally able to provide.
What you do is, you do an online search or call the local Area Agency on Aging and find several assisted living or nursing homes, schedule a tour and visit with an admissions director, who will ask you questions about mom's needs and you can ask questions, including what it will cost. It will be better if you do this on your own, without mom, and narrow down to your favorite options, then take mom to see them. You don't want to scare her by seeing someplace that looks horribly inhospitable.
BTW: Medicare does not cover the cost of assisted living or nursing home care, but it does cover medical expenses, such as doctor visits and medications or medical supplies with a doctor's prescription.
If you are able to get her eligible for Medicaid waivered services, or Long Term Care, then they will help pay the difference, after mom pays, for nursing home care.
But there are folks who do not have the FICA 40 qtrs. It can be too expensive to pay what is required to have MediCARE.
- If you worked 30-39 qtrs it’s a required monthly Part A premium of $311 a mo PLUS the $202.96 = $ 513.96 a mo
- If you worked under 30 qtrs it’s a required monthly Part A premium of $565 a mo PLUS the $202.96 = $767.96 ea mo.
Those that fall in this tend to have low SS retirement income as either they didn’t work or worked under the table or they worked as a “pass through” as they had a LLC or S Corp that made the income. The % is low but is increasing as so many folks are freelancers using an EIN rather than as SS#.
It can be real challenging to deal with. It’s why I asked the OP, if her mom really was not on Medicare. I hope it’s that she has confused Medicare for Medicaid. It happens and frequently.
if you could get back with an answer, that would be helpful.
Not having MediCARE at all when you are over 65 happens but it’s going to be a really different situation to find a facility for her.
If your Mom makes too much to qualify for Medicaid then it is time to attend with her an Elder Law Attorney who will help with QIT or Miller Trust to put some of her funds into said Trust and to qualify her to admission to facility care.
Truly you cannot continue care when you yourself are not well. Discuss with your doctor and ask for Social Services assistance.
Do you mean Medicaid? If she's 73 she does have Medicare, but it doesn't pay for AL.
Please contact your local Area Agency on Aging for resources and information; or call 2-1-1 (ditto); or talk to a social worker about an Elder Waiver for AL.