what do you do here? I haven't called medicare yet, just putting it off I guess. don't even know what I will do when Jim is gone and soc sec too. any suggestions out there please help. Vicki

Hi - I am not sure what your questions are. Could you please outline what it is you specifically need help with? If you have fewer than $2,000 in savings, Medicaid should cover the cost of LTC in a NH. Depending on facilities in your area, you might be able to find an ALF that will accept Medicaid patients. What exactly do you need? Are you talking about YOUR expenses after your LO is gone? Lynn

I don't know what alf is or the other abbreviations. please explain. what I mean is if Jim has to go into a facility. there is no money for that. from me or our children. thanks Vicki

Hi Vicki - there are a lot of abbreviations used on this forum! Here are the ones you will see often:
ALF = Assisted Living Facility
NH = Nursing home
SNF = Skilled nursing facility
LO = Loved one
LTC= Long term care (also my initials!!!)

I believe that if your family has less than $2,000 Medicaid will cover a nursing home, if the doctor says it is required. I don't know of any asst'd living places that take Medicaid patients, but I think there are others on the forum who have LOs in ALFs and on Medicaid. Things like this vary a lot from place to place.
I think if you go to your local social services/welfare office you can meet with a social worker who could help you with options and processes. Wherever a person would go to sign up for Medicaid benefits is probably the first place I'd check out.
I hope this is helpful. Others on the forum might have some suggestions too so I hope you get the advice you are looking for. Let us know how things are going and if you need anything else. Lynn

Vicki,

There should be some resources in your area, such as a council on aging or Alzheimer's association, to help you figure out the answers. If all else fails, contact social services, which should have specialists in adult services.

I remember many years ago hearing my mother, a social worker, on the phone dealing with just these kinds of issues.

Garnet

thanks all of you for your help adnd information. It means alot to me to have someone out there who is listening. I have a psychiatrist I talk to too. thanks again. Vicki xxxx oooo

I'm so glad you have a trusted pro. to talk with. I am sure she/he or someone in the office can help guide you to folks who can help. There are a lot of caring people here, don't be afraid to ask!
I hope you make some headway today with the tasks that you are facing. Lynn

Vicki, this web site is helpful for locating ALFs and SNFs and whether or not they take Medicaid. http://www.snapforseniors.com/Housing.aspx --Pat

Speaking of money, I can't figure out how so many families can afford assisted living and nursing homes. ???

On cost, my LO has been in two ALFs so far. The first one cost about $3k a month for a room and care for someone with dementia. The care was not as comprehensive as the one she is in now as her disease has progressed. Now we pay about $6k a month. I checked out nursing homes and they are about the same price. People usually do not move from this ALF to a nursing home, they end their life at the ALF.

We are paying for it by spending down her money. It should be down to medicaid level (total of $2k) by the end of the year if she is still living there. At that point she will have to share a room (which might not be such a bad thing) and she will have little money. However, I'm hopeful that we will get VA Aid and Assistance which is not counted for medicaid purposes. And she does get social security.

It's a chunk of money and I hate paying that check but I could not work if she were living with us so that's a huge factor. There are other reasons for her not to live in my home too.

I'm considering a negotiating tactic to see if I can get the price down to extend the time she can stay in a single room. Anyone try negotiation?

No negotiating where my dad is. Once you can't pay, you're outta there! I don't think there's an ALF within 100 mi. of where my dad is that accepts Medicaid patients.
I am just so thankful my parents worked hard, were good investors and put money away for "rainy days". If they hadn't, he'd be in a NH near his home and they are not nearly as nice as the ALF where he is. And, if he has to go to a NH before he dies or is out of money, we will be paying about $7 - $8,000 a month instead of about $5,500 a month. I wish I owned one of these places - they have to be making a lot of money.
There's a beautiful dementia ALF near me but it is $10,000 a month for starters and no medicaid accepted. You have to have saved some REALLY serious money to be there! And then there are the continual care places where you pay at least $250,000 upfront plus your monthly fees of thousands of dollars. It is absolutely staggering, and the prices are not going to get any cheaper, for sure.

While my husband was in ALFs last year by temporary necessity, we spent over $40K, mostly from his IRA. If he has to be placed again, it will be our life savings and the profit from selling our last house and buying a smaller, cheaper one. The dementia unit he was in last summer sent out a notice stating they would not accept any new Medicaid patients.

They know they've got us over a barrel in these situations. The executives of these big corporations are making big profits while the CNA's make barely above minimum wage. It makes me sick! And angry!

Annie - I think trying to negotiate for what you want is always a good thing. The worst that can happen is the other person says "no". You never know what might get worked out. My dad's ALF has been very responsive to me for any number of things I've asked about, and I have been pleasantly surprised most of the time. I haven't tried to negotiate on the price because I frankly think we are very lucky that they are even willing to keep him there in the condition he is in. They even went to bat for him (unbenounced to me) and got a waiver from the state to keep him at the ALF and not force us into moving him into a NH over the pressure sore issue. It's worth a try! Good luck and let us know how it turns out. Lynn

BTW. Lynn, what is the condition of the pressure sore? Much better or well, I hope.

DrP

Hi Dorthea - thanks for asking. The head nurse told my sister today that it looks very good and is almost healed over. He has had it for 4 - 5 mo. now, and I guess his lack of eating, especially protein is one of the contributing factors to its longevity. Now that they've had him on protein shakes and are trying to feed him (he doesn't want anyone feeding him and gets really mad if they try) he is getting more protein which seems to be helping. And, the wound care nurse I am sure is playing a big part. They have him lying in bed most of the day, turning him over about every hour since he can no longer turn over, sit up, or move any body parts other than his arms a little. So, not sitting is helping too. I can't believe it takes so long for these to heal.
How are you doing? Lynn