From what I have read and been told it could take months for Medicaid to come through. You can apply and not draw upon Medicaid until necessary. So it is better to apply before you need it so it is ready to go.
As for you immediate need, can you move in or move the person to you temporarily?
Check with the local Area Agency on Aging. They may be able to assist you with identifying other community options. Our local office has a navigator program that provides personalized assistance with identifying resources the individual qualifies for. For instance, there may be an agency that will provides in-home care on a sliding-fee scale basis. Also, don't forget the State or the local Department of Aging and Disability Services (it may be called something else in your area). They also can provide in-home care, but this process could take a few months due to Medicaid. You can also check to see if there are any church-based teams of volunteers (care team) who reach out to the elderly and those with disabilities. These volunteers seek to provide various assistance and you may be fortunate enough to have a team at your church or another church in your town. If that's not an option perhaps you can assemble your own team of family and friends who can rotate providing in-home care 2-4 hours at a time. Good luck!
People wait too long when they could have prepared to qualify sooner so when they really need it the process goes faster. I am fortunate to have located someone with a lot of experience handling this. I do not have to undergo the steep learning curve. Even having someone doing the footwork it is still time consuming preparing the documentation for the specialist. If I had to do everything myself it would get delayed as it all poses a significant challenge.
(It took 6 months for my dad to be approved for Medicaid)
As for you immediate need, can you move in or move the person to you temporarily?
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