I am planning to take my mother home for a few days (probably three nights). She is on Medicaid. I don't want to compromise her Medicaid in any way. What does Medicaid say about home stays? Thanks.
I was told by our nursing home Social Worker that mom gets 18 nights away from the home per year. Only 18.... this is in Michigan... but she can be in and out every day of the year if you want, as long as she's back before midnight.
@igloo572 excellent advice - especially on the mechanics of the trip which in some ways are more important to consider than just her Medicaid status. My aunt is in a nursing home (total care/hoyer lift) and when we have her overnight we hire staff from the facility to come over 2 hrs in the AM & PM to get her ready for the day and for bedtime. Money well spent I tell you!
Trevor - I would ask the SNF about Medicaid rules as they are very familiar with this and they don't want to lose her insurance either! Each nursing home is required to provide residents with information about their bed-hold policy before the resident leaves the facility (for hospitalizations as an example). Every state is different - some have 30 days and some have 10.
Keep in mind if a Medicaid recipient is absent longer than the nursing home's policy allows, federal law requires the nursing home to readmit the recipient to the first available room. If she has dementia, this could be very disorienting and traumatic of her.
Also I'd like to add, that my mom was kinda used to checking out of the NH for a long afternoon to go to lunch, or to Target, or see her oldhairdresser every few weeks. If your mom has not been out & away from the NH for ages, maybe do a long day to see if really feasible before the big weekend.
Ask the business office at the NH, what rules for occupancy are required for Medicaid for your state. I took my mom on a Friday till early afternoon Sunday to a family wedding and it was not an issue. She had to be there & back before Sunday dinner. There were residents who go checked out once a mo to go to visit family for a nite or two.
Mom was still ambulatory at the time, which was great as any equipment she used at the NH could not be taken out of the NH. I had moms old Hugo wheeled walker & portable bath seat & TENA style briefs that we had as well. Plus ground floor handicapped access hotel room. She was good but we kept her on the same schedule for medications (be sure you get these from the nursing station), meals & bedtime (left reception earlier) for the weekend. And she was never alone at all as you could tell it was confusing especially in getting in & out of cars. Mom had lewy body dementia so she still knew people & had a sense of time & that made it easier. If she had Alz & really didn't recognize folks, would be very dicey.
On the medications, you need to have a DPOA & MPOA to get their meds. If they are taking any schedule 1or 2 drugs, could be a problem in allowing those out.
Trevor - I would ask the SNF about Medicaid rules as they are very familiar with this and they don't want to lose her insurance either! Each nursing home is required to provide residents with information about their bed-hold policy before the resident leaves the facility (for hospitalizations as an example). Every state is different - some have 30 days and some have 10.
Keep in mind if a Medicaid recipient is absent longer than the nursing home's policy allows, federal law requires the nursing home to readmit the recipient to the first available room. If she has dementia, this could be very disorienting and traumatic of her.
Good luck!
Mom was still ambulatory at the time, which was great as any equipment she used at the NH could not be taken out of the NH. I had moms old Hugo wheeled walker & portable bath seat & TENA style briefs that we had as well. Plus ground floor handicapped access hotel room. She was good but we kept her on the same schedule for medications (be sure you get these from the nursing station), meals & bedtime (left reception earlier) for the weekend. And she was never alone at all as you could tell it was confusing especially in getting in & out of cars. Mom had lewy body dementia so she still knew people & had a sense of time & that made it easier. If she had Alz & really didn't recognize folks, would be very dicey.
On the medications, you need to have a DPOA & MPOA to get their meds. If they are taking any schedule 1or 2 drugs, could be a problem in allowing those out.