Most assisted living facilities don't accept Medicaid. I did find one in my state of KS that does take Medicaid, but they require the resident/s to pay for one year before applying for Medicaid. So call around to different facilities in your area to see if any of them provide medicaid and what other requirements they may have. Please know if both go into AL if they share the apt, there is usually a 2nd person charge. I believe in my parents case it was and additional $150/mo. SNF (nursing homes) usually have medicaid beds, but depending on where you live and the facility they may be hard to come by so by all means do your homework.
Check your parents county for Agency on Agency (may have a different name depending on where they live) and check with them for resources that Medicaid can offer them either now or in the future.
I agree you probably need to get the documentation together now for medicaid. It's a lot of work getting all the required documentation.
ALSO, was either parent in the military and have veteran's status? If so get the veteran signed up with VA - they have a program called Aid and Attendance where the veteran gets monthly payments; there is also benefits available for a surviving spouse. I glanced over Aid and Attendance for dad but income was too high i believe, but I did enroll him for VA medical benefits - still used his regular PCP, but did get his hearing aids for him through the VA for only a $60 copayment and free HA batteries for his lifetime.
It is excellent you are planning now for their future and I wish you luck in finding resources for them now. Good luck
I recommend that you apply for Medicaid NOW to even see if they qualify. They could use Medicaid for other health insurance purposes, not just LTC. As others have written, Medicaid does not usually pay for assisted living - only nursing home care.
But at any rate, the person needs to qualify for Medicaid first. It can take time to gather together all of the necessary documents, complete them, file them, wait for approval (or not), etc.
It will take at least 3 months to be approved upon submission to Medicaid - and you need to re-certify every year. Even if you don't use a facility in the beginning, you can use Medicaid to get in home care and needed supplies by using a Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) agency.
Further if they are eligible or already on Medicare, you should also apply for the State’s Medicare Savings Program. This is not Medicaid, but may start the process for it because it is based on assets and income.
It can't hurt to explore options, but in reading the info at the link BarbBrooklyn posted, it became apparent what others have said in the past is mostly true. Most state Medicaid plans do not cover AL. The statement in question is:
"Federal law bars the state Medicaid program from paying for the cost of room and board in assisted living. Waiver participants, or their families, are expected to pay for this portion of the monthly fee."
Room and board is the biggest part of the cost! It appears Medicaid only covers any "medical" necessities. I knew that AL room and board was NOT deductible on Federal taxes, but MC is. My mother was beyond AL by the time we needed to move her, so she's been mostly tax free for the 4 years she was in MC. Facility costs and many supplies (briefs, wipes, bed pads) WERE deductible.
Even when NHs are required for the care, there are limited openings. But one needs to qualify for NH care as well, so there's that issue. Generally dementia alone isn't enough. It never hurts to ask though, so start asking! Now is the time to prepare.
Being very low income, they might qualify for limited in-home care. If there is a Medicaid number you can call to discuss all your questions and concerns, start there. If not or they aren't helpful, you might want to seek out EC attys who offer an initial free consult. Have all info ready for that limited visit: income, expenses, disabilities/needs, etc.
Some paid in home care will be helpful. If possible, they care hire additional help with their own income. If family members can provide some assistance as well, they can remain in their own place for now, while you sort out the rest.
It would be good, as someone suggested, to have a plan in place in the event that either has a medical emergency and the other needs care/oversight. It is best to at least start exploring and planning for the future, rather than waiting for the inevitable emergencies to happen! Be aware of all financials and medical needs, documenting changes and keeping tabs on updates to social programs. If they can get the latest big bill passed, there are funds allocated to provide more assistance for elders and caregivers. It won't magically cure the elder care crisis, but every little bit helps!
If possible, ping your Reps and Senators. You can read about the issues and find a link to locate your state reps in my post:
We have a LARGE group of people on this forum who are all in the Dementia Titanic - WE need to let THEM know where the needs are and how bad the situation really is. If WE don't let them know, they can continue to bury their heads in the sand. Rattle the cages people!!! WE the people need to speak up!
Do you have an Area of Aging? With some in-home services they may cope for longer in their home?
Could either of them live safely alone if the other had a health crises & hospitalised? Having an emergency plan for that scenario may be a good idea too.
Yes, apply! Begin the application process, as these things always take more energy, time, and research than expected.
in the mean time, see if you have a local senior “Meals on Wheels” program that will deliver lunch to your parents. Take pressure off of yourself and your mom wherever possible
As said, ALs are not usually covered by Mediccaid. In my State, you have to private pay at least for 2 years before applying for Medicaid for an AL or MC.
You may not be able to apply for Medicaid in advance. My state allows 90 days from filing application to placing the recipient. In that time you spend down any money, get all info requested and line up a place for you LOs. You need to go to your County Social Service Office and talk to a Medicaid caseworker.
How bad is Dad? Maybe a LTC would be good for him with Medicaid paying for his care. Mom would become the Community spouse being able to stay in the home and have a car. She will get enough from their monthly income to live on. Maybe thru Medicaid in home you could get help for Mom. Without the care of Dad she may be better.
You may have trouble finding an ALF that accepts Medicaid. There are some but your choices will be very limited. My friend found one for her mother. Also, depending on the extent of your mom’s disability, most ALFs require a level of independent mobility. (E.g say able to walk with a walker for 100 feet; no use of wheelchair as primary mobility). My Dads ALF has those requirements. Also, if you have LTC insurance, read the fine print. My dad’s insurance required a fully time nurse on staff. My dads doesn’t have a FT nurse hence coverage was declined.
While some report good feedback about LTC policies, they do vary a lot and many seem to have too many "gotchas". To pour all that money into insurance only to have them deny when you need it would be awful! There might be good policies out there, but I've read that many companies are getting out of this business because it isn't profitable.
Check your parents county for Agency on Agency (may have a different name depending on where they live) and check with them for resources that Medicaid can offer them either now or in the future.
I agree you probably need to get the documentation together now for medicaid. It's a lot of work getting all the required documentation.
ALSO, was either parent in the military and have veteran's status? If so get the veteran signed up with VA - they have a program called Aid and Attendance where the veteran gets monthly payments; there is also benefits available for a surviving spouse. I glanced over Aid and Attendance for dad but income was too high i believe, but I did enroll him for VA medical benefits - still used his regular PCP, but did get his hearing aids for him through the VA for only a $60 copayment and free HA batteries for his lifetime.
It is excellent you are planning now for their future and I wish you luck in finding resources for them now. Good luck
But at any rate, the person needs to qualify for Medicaid first. It can take time to gather together all of the necessary documents, complete them, file them, wait for approval (or not), etc.
"Federal law bars the state Medicaid program from paying for the cost of room and board in assisted living. Waiver participants, or their families, are expected to pay for this portion of the monthly fee."
Room and board is the biggest part of the cost! It appears Medicaid only covers any "medical" necessities. I knew that AL room and board was NOT deductible on Federal taxes, but MC is. My mother was beyond AL by the time we needed to move her, so she's been mostly tax free for the 4 years she was in MC. Facility costs and many supplies (briefs, wipes, bed pads) WERE deductible.
Even when NHs are required for the care, there are limited openings. But one needs to qualify for NH care as well, so there's that issue. Generally dementia alone isn't enough. It never hurts to ask though, so start asking! Now is the time to prepare.
Being very low income, they might qualify for limited in-home care. If there is a Medicaid number you can call to discuss all your questions and concerns, start there. If not or they aren't helpful, you might want to seek out EC attys who offer an initial free consult. Have all info ready for that limited visit: income, expenses, disabilities/needs, etc.
Some paid in home care will be helpful. If possible, they care hire additional help with their own income. If family members can provide some assistance as well, they can remain in their own place for now, while you sort out the rest.
It would be good, as someone suggested, to have a plan in place in the event that either has a medical emergency and the other needs care/oversight. It is best to at least start exploring and planning for the future, rather than waiting for the inevitable emergencies to happen! Be aware of all financials and medical needs, documenting changes and keeping tabs on updates to social programs. If they can get the latest big bill passed, there are funds allocated to provide more assistance for elders and caregivers. It won't magically cure the elder care crisis, but every little bit helps!
If possible, ping your Reps and Senators. You can read about the issues and find a link to locate your state reps in my post:
https://www.agingcare.com/discussions/suggestion-to-become-active-in-promoting-caregiver-help-not-a-question-463299.htm?orderby=newest
We have a LARGE group of people on this forum who are all in the Dementia Titanic - WE need to let THEM know where the needs are and how bad the situation really is. If WE don't let them know, they can continue to bury their heads in the sand. Rattle the cages people!!! WE the people need to speak up!
Could either of them live safely alone if the other had a health crises & hospitalised?
Having an emergency plan for that scenario may be a good idea too.
in the mean time, see if you have a local senior “Meals on Wheels” program that will deliver lunch to your parents. Take pressure off of yourself and your mom wherever possible
You may not be able to apply for Medicaid in advance. My state allows 90 days from filing application to placing the recipient. In that time you spend down any money, get all info requested and line up a place for you LOs. You need to go to your County Social Service Office and talk to a Medicaid caseworker.
How bad is Dad? Maybe a LTC would be good for him with Medicaid paying for his care. Mom would become the Community spouse being able to stay in the home and have a car. She will get enough from their monthly income to live on. Maybe thru Medicaid in home you could get help for Mom. Without the care of Dad she may be better.
If they do not qualify for Medicaid now, you will need to apply when their situation changes and they do qualify.
Medicaid will not save paperwork for a "time when they may need this".
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