I can only post questions, but can't reply to any, so thank you in advance for any info!
We took Mom into the ER yesterday bcuz she was very confused (dementia). They kept her overnight for observation and both the ER doc and the doc this morning said she's not safe at home. Here's the problem. She has $7,000 to her name and that's enough to only pay for about a month of long term care. It takes 3-5 months here for her to qualify for Medicaid long term care. So the hospital is going to send her back home until she qualifies. The social worker says she's sorry but there's nothing they can do. Is that true? Do we have to keep her here at home until she qualifies for medicaid? Dh and I are sleeping in shifts just so there's someone with her at all times. :( I can't imagine another 3-5 months of this.
Medicaid also pays retro-actively for up to six months prior to a person getting on it. Whatever care facility she lands in will take the $7,000 and start the Medicaid application the day she arrives. Whatever few months the application is pending, Medicaid pays hen she gets approved.
BE FIRM!
The hospital will want you to come and get her so that she is no longer a problem for them to solve. They probably want you to do this like tomorrow as we are about to have a 3 day weekend. So that 3 day stay will run into next week. Not your problem.
I’m surprised that she hasn’t been admitted but only been under observation. She has Medicare (I assume) so has heath insurance that will pay for her hospitalization and whatever tests, scans and therapy evaluations this hospital can tag onto her health chart. She has had multiple strokes and falls. This in addition to her cognitive decline. They can find a legit reason to admit her and then after the 3 night stay discharge her to rehab in a SNF. Once in the SNF, she never leaves!
That discharge planner is looking for the easy way to exit mom. Don’t let it happen.
BE SUPER FIRM!
Now if they keep on pushing this with you….. well a possible response from you could be that you are oh so worried about her having yet what you think was a transient ischemic attack. As it seemed she had something that resembled that a few days ago and maybe also the week before too. Remind them that she has had several stokes too. It’s just not a safe place for her to go back to a private residence with no adults to be there for her continuously.
Now on the other issue of LTC Medicaid. The 3-5 months is about the length of time that’s somewhat standard for processing LTC Medicaid applications. She will spend down whatever excess $ she has as her assets by private paying the NH; then she files the LTC Medicaid application and becomes a “Medicaid Pending” resident; as “Pending” she will have to pay the NH almost all of her monthly income less a small personal needs allowance. Her income is her required Share of cost aka Resident Responsibility. It’s required so if mom has debts, too bad. The Nh has to get the SOC. Then when her application is finally wrapped up in its processing, the Nh will get their LTC Medicaid day rate reimbursement which will be back dated to date of application filing. Now if you don’t want to deal with her financials, let the NH become representative payee for her SS, so they get her $ directly and put PNA $ into a lil on site account for her/ her POA to draw from as needed. Lots of States allow only $50 a mo PNA. It’s just enough to pay for on site beauty shoppe. I’m not necessarily a fan-girl of doing NH as rep payee… but for your situation - as your mom was abusive - it might be the mentally healthiest way to deal with all this.
Best of luck and be firm. You got this, review your old answers as you’ve worked a lot of this out before.
Do not take your Mom home, no matter what the hospital says... or threatens.
Other resources:
A certified elder law attorney licensed for your home state.
Contact a Medicaid Planner for your home state.
Your local Area Agency on Aging
Call 2-1-1
Your mother should be able to be placed Medicaid pending ASAP.
Do NOT bring your mother back home. Let them know that she is an "unsafe discharge" so they can get her placed now.