Curious. My parents don't own a home. I own the two family home they live in, so rent is "flexible" to say the least. My mom has three small pensions in addition to social security that put her about $300 month over what PACE and other community home based waiver programs will allow (those programs are based on individual income). My dad qualifies on his own (he just has his SS and didn't have as of good jobs as my mom) but doesn't need the level of care those programs require. Medicaid is based on joint income, so they don't qualify for that. So no compensation for a family caregiver. Also, there are no Miller trusts in my state.
Mom certainly has her medical issues, but not to the level of needing a SNF 24/7. I think she could benefit from the waiver care, though. The cost of assisted living well exceeds their combined income. Mom will need a SNF full-time well before Dad. But right now they just need an extra layer of help in addition to what I provide.
Anyway, the best I can come up with now is paying for caregivers without assistance which is a lot...
Am I missing anything? Other than a Medicaid divorce (and they're not likely to pursue that...)
I sure do wish you good luck. This can be so problematic in a state where there is no miller trust, and no QIT allowed.
I sure hope there is something you are missing, but I haven't a clue what that might be.
I am hoping Igloo is around on the site as she's very good at this sort of thing.
In our state, I "think" Medicaid looks at each individual's income and/or divides the household income in half so the person not needing care is not left destitute.
If you have not asked these questions, or have not asked Medicaid directly, I would suggest to go to the Medicaid office to apply in person. You may find there is a different category or service available that you have not discovered and she may be eligible for another kind of help.
She has too much money to get any outside financial help, but that’s understandable.
If I were in your shoes, I’d see about hiring someone to help with her/ them.
The care givers I’ve had are nice, but don’t cook well, need prompting to do their “light” housekeeping, so I leave notes or on the calendar.
They do give my mom showers and help in the bathroom and redressing, as Depends are almost useless. That’s in Sonora OK
ANYWAY, get some outside care you can afford. Look into agencies to come help, just know you’ll have to monitor them.
If your parents can at least pay for the property taxes on the house and their utilities and food, hopefully there will be a little more left for a caregiver. I am being charged 35 an hour. The caregiver receives $16. of that.
Our society is not well equipped for this kind of help as we get older.
My sister and I do the majority of care for mom. It’s very overwhelming.
I wish you all well~
Dementia requires 24/7 supervision in memory care, and no one person can do it. Requires a team to do!
The care recipient pays, not the family, nor any other loving people, to self-pays for her care.
It costs so much to pay for care that minimal, or no funds are left over from recipients' pensions or resources to pay for their regular housing expenses, such as property taxes, utilities, upkeep and telephone, since most or all of their income goes to hired homecare or facility caregiving help. Costs $4k to $6k monthly! Our federal government is sooo broken that it makes it so unfair for a beloved family to pay for such costs just for Mom's long-term and care.
Your parents funds, none of your funds, pay for your mother's or both parent's care.
It's best to counsel with an elder attorney for financial assistance since care is very expensive that could make your mom's payments for her care spend down to Medicaid level, likely in a facility, depending on her condition at the time.