My mother doesn't qualify for Medicaid, so she can't get a home caregiver.

Thank you to all who sent answers. We now have 2 caregivers who are being paid from my mother's account. And we found a home care company who comes once a week to check her vital signs, etc., and Medicare pays them. All is working out okay. Hope all of you are having a great day.

My advice to you would be it's going to be paid for one way or the other.
You need more caregiving service to help take care of your mother. You can hire private caregivers and pay them out of her money and keep the state out of it and out of your business.
Or you can spend down every dollar and assets she has first and then Medicaid will pay for it.
Give private hiring a try first. You can negotiate the pay with private caregivers. This might work for you and your mother.

You can reapply after you spend down all her savings unless her monthly income is to high. Then I guess you can just add hours of what she can afford.

Are you saying that your mother DOES have assets but that you or she are unwilling to spend them on her care?

If so, you will have to decide whether your health/your life is worth preserving her funds, or not.

This is the fact. Caring for one LO with multiple symptoms is physically and emotionally VERY DIFFICULT.

Now double that. You not only need more help, you MUST have more help. If you CHOOSE any other solution, you are heading to your own decline.

You and YOUR WELFARE need to be more important than the are (in your own mind) at present.

You appear to be choosing to keep your mother in your home as opposed to placing her in the best residential setting you can find. Why is that? Who is benefiting from her being there?

Will you be any worse off if/when you need residential care?

Hoping you will very soon develop solutions that will allow YOU to live in ways that give you more safety peace and balance, for you and for those whom you presently love and care for.

97yr old

I just went to the Medicare site and as I read it they do not supply in home services longterm. "Temporarily or intermittent" are the words they use.

https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services#

They have a nice booklet that can be printed off.

Use the funds from the sale of the house and find an assisted living for her. As time goes on there will be steady decline… and….As time goes on she will eventually qualify for Medicaid.

not worth your health , mental and physical…

my moms sale of her mobile home was her tiny egg nest for her care. It’s been almost 2 years and I am now moving my mom from another state to my area. What I know now , in my area , there are multiple AL that have a self pay clause, that if they self pay for , 1 or 2 or 3 years (depending on the AL requirements) when going on Medicaid, resident can stay in their apartment and not share.. my mom should just make the one year mark in the AL she is moving too.

Alee
I know you have thought of what if something happens to you, what will they do?
That’s no doubt why you are having panic attacks.

Remember that every layer of help will make life more manageable.

1. Take some of moms money and visit a certified elder attorney well versed in Medicaid for your state. You will feel so much better just having a plan of action.

2. Hire extra help while you figure this out with the attorney.

3. If your mom is on original Medicare, contact a home health agency and ask that she be evaluated for services. You can find a list on Medicare.gov. If she qualifies as homebound who needs less than 24/7 skilled nursing, then she can get a nurse in weekly to set up her pill planner, take her vitals and help with her health issues. Additionally she can get a bathing aide at least weekly and PT, OT as needed. The bathing aide can change her linens, even heat a meal on occasion. Your moms doctor will need to write a prescription for the home health but the home health can help you with that. Just get the process in motion by calling them. You aren’t looking for the HH service that is available after a hospital or rehab stay and only lasts a few weeks. You are looking for the HH that is available for the homebound. My mom had it for years. My aunt had it for years and has now been switched over to the hospice group where she gets more services. This is not MediCAID, but is MediCare. Your mom may also be eligible for hospice which will give you more frequent services and supplies.

4. Hire a housekeeper if you don’t already have one. Even if they only come once a quarter, it can really help.

5. Check out meals on wheels if it’s available in your area.

6. Consider adult day care. At least check it out.

7. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging for services that might be available.

Best of luck to you and so good that you are looking for help.
Big Hugs.

So you need to use the money from the sale of her house to hire caregivers. Place her in an AL or LTC facility. When the money runs out, then apply for Medicaid.

You are not going to be able to care for two people without help.

Why doesn't your Mom not qualify for Medicaid? Have you actually contacted them? I think you will get more answers if we know why.

Thanks for the advice.

You say she doesn’t qualify for Medicaid but don’t say why. May I suggest you consult with an elder care attorney and discuss irrevocable trusts? Her assets would not be counted toward Medicaid eligibility then and you would be surprised what medicaid let’s you keep- a house, a car and living expenses.