How hard is it to get Mom into a nursing home?

Specialties Geriatric

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My mother is broke and is now applying for medicaid to help her out. I was told that nursing homes don't want patients on medicaid period. I pray she never has to go into a nursing home as I like having her in her own home. However, if the time comes and the nursing home won't accept her because she's on medicaid: Yikes, where will Mom end up? Thanks;)

Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

The waiver program is great-it's fairly new and the funds are limited but it's worth looking into.The medicare.gov site is very informative if you are narrowing your choices down-the info available is updated within 40 days of each inspection so it is good info....I suggest you visit some local nursing homes on your own first and then maybe meeting with admissions.They can really help you out even if you are just looking at tentative placement....

Thanks CapeCodMermaid and ktwlpn. Mom's lawyer took the house out of Mom's name and put it into my name last month. The lawyer said she isn't allowed to have more than $2,000 in the bank in order to qualify for medicaid. The lawyer said that medicaid might pay for a family member to take care of Mom so she can stay out of a nursing home.;) Mom's money has mostly gone to pay for her meds. Last month, she had to pay over $600 for a month's supply of 3 of her pills.:angryfire She has one of those so-called medicare discount drug plans too.:madface:

Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

I don't want to sound like the voice of doom, and I am certainly not an expert in Medicaid, but I think there is a 3 year look back unless the person is the spouse....perhaps since you've been living there you'll be okay. I hope your lawyer is well versed in Medicaid laws. It's a specialty practice around here.

Thanks CapeCod Mermaid.;) Mom's lawyer is an "elder law" attorney so I sure am hoping he knows what he is doing. I have lived here with Mom for 5 years now. Yes, I hear the medicaid rules are constantly changing so I sure hope the lawyer is keeping up to date with the latest changes.

hi blackcat,

i can't contribute any further-you've gotten wonderful input here.

just wanted to say 'hi' and am glad to hear mom's doing ok. :balloons:

leslie

Thanks Leslie. I am so grateful that I can keep Mom home at this time.

Specializes in NICU.
please look in your community for area office on aging...info found in blue pages of phone book.

there is a medicaid waiver program available in many states that is meant to keep elderly at home and out of nursing homes.

in pa ours is called: hcbs waiver for individuals age 60 and over

centers for medicare/medicaid link: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaidstwaivprogdemopgi/05_hcbswaivers-section1915©.asp

to find program, click on your state:

waivers and demonstrations through map of states

p.s.: you do not need to have medicaid, but be medicaid eligible.

i've cared for many in this program to keep em out of snf. for those that cant get to doctors, philadelphia's program has rn's make monthly visit to eval home safety, med compliance, assess for illness and instruct disease management, med prefills if needed--service my homecare agency provides. also pt performs bathroom safety eval, provide shower chair and bath grab bars all in name of safety. cheeper to keep your loved one at home.

karen, how can i find out what help we could get for my mil? she will be 97 on july 4, and would prefer to die in her own bed. she lives in senior housing in ky, still somewhat independent, but has macular degeneration. she makes stews/soups, and complains because she has problems pouring the food into a bowl:rolleyes: .......she still has all her smarts, too. writes letters to us that are much more legible since her sight deteriorated. other than her vision and the fact that she is getting weak, she is in good shape. says all she wants to do is sleep. i think at 97, that is perfectly appropriate. she weighs less than 100lbs, and keeps asking what she can do to gain weight. i think she's lasted this long, her diet is fine! her housecleaning leaves something to be desired, she has a friend who stops by occasionally, and will help out. a stepson takes her grocery shopping, and she does use a wheelchair on trips like that.

i checked the site for kentucky, but nothing showed up. how could we go about getting someone in on a regular basis? it wouldn't hurt to get someone to help her bathe, she only takes sponge baths, and has done that for years. we have looked at a couple of nursing homes, but she doesn't have the money to pay herself, and hasn't been sick enough to be hospitalized. if she did end up in a home, she probably quit eating as she wouldn't like the food.

she wouldn't like people messing with her stuff, either. actually, she's not happy about having someone come in, for the same reason.

we live in cali, my hb is going out to visit this weekend. he also went out to visit earlier this year, so we should have a better idea of how she is really doing. she will not come to live with us. her choice, she's lived in that area all her life, and her plot is picked out ready and waiting next to her parents and a sibling.

is it possible to get help paying for someone to come in?

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