elder Care help?

[TalenaGor]

I am hoping that some of you are well-versed in Elder Care financing in Washington State... I'm at a loss at the moment....
My mother is currently in a nursing home in Tacoma I believe the place charges about $4,000 a month of which 3000 is paid by Medicare so my mom has to pay a thousand a month...
My grandmother had been paying that for her but my grandmother passed away on April 26th. It appears she didn't leave any money behind from Mom so now we have to figure out how Mom can pay her bills and pay her rent on her $900 Social Security....
I suppose one option is she just stops paying the bills..... I could probably chip in the other hundred a month and she didn't least be able to sustain.... But there's got to be another way.... The medical bills are going to pile up and they already have.... There's a ton of bills from Grandma's passing..... And we are in the midst of wrapping up Grandma's life... But now I'm extremely worried about my mother..... She has to be in a facility because she has to have care..... She can't stay with family.... We're going to sell the trailer they were living in before but that's only a few thousand....
I'm really scared for my mom right now 😟

Have any of you found some way around these things?

[Glorfindel]

1. Have you checked with social services at the nursing home?

They should have access to all the information you need, and they will help you in obtaining assistance for your mother. Rules vary from state to state, but here in Georgia your mother would be a perfect candidate for Medicaid. Medicare payments for nursing-home residents are usually short-term, for a specified period of time while recovering from a medical trauma, such as a broken hip. Medicaid pays for "custodial" care, for residents who are not acutely ill or injured, but who are unable to care for themselves or live alone or with family. Best of luck to you!

[CountAllVotes]

2. Medicare pays for 3 mos. in a nursing home IF hospice is involved

and the nursing home has to be "certified'.

Otherwise you are on your own.

Does she have supplemental coverage?

I don't get this.

Are you sure she is not on MEDICAID?

My mother died of cancer and was in a care home, not a nursing home. I paid the entire bill while she was there which was not too long luckily given her horrific condition.

[TalenaGor]

3. maybe it is Medicaid... I believe it's a permanent Arrangement not temporary so maybe it is

I really don't know this stuff LOL

[whathehell]

4. You'll need to know exactly what programs she's on

..Then, you may be able to negotiate with the Nursing home..It's what my sister did with my mother's nursing home care, which was, like your grandmom's, $4,000 a month. Mom didn't have that much money, so my sister negotiated 2 years of full payments, and after that, just her Mefivpcare, and you may be able to do the same, just find out what her program and her total income and assets are. Good luck, and congrats on being a good, caring daughter.

[Wellstone ruled]

5. Your Post goes in the right direction.

Each State has different Rules and Policies. Sad part is the new Claw Back Rule for Wealth that has been transferred to Children under Older Federal Income policies.

You need to take one of your Trusted Family Friend and have a sit down with the Home Management Point person. Been down that road five different times,and with each new Family Member entering a Home ,the new rules are just plain stupid.

Watch out for the Claw Back. Recovering 60 months past money transfer to Children gets ugly.

You can thank Paul Ryan for that one.

[whathehell]

6. Thanks, Wellstone ruled

and congrats on your choice of username ...PW was a favorite of mine -- a true progressive.

Thanks for all this good info...I'll likely be needing it myself in not too long a time.

[Wellstone ruled]

7. Knowing the Man made

myself and many others,proud to be DFLers. Learn from him to always stay positive no matter what.

[pennylane100]

8. I find the claw back rule outrageous.

I wonder if it has been challenged up to the supreme court level.

[Wellstone ruled]

9. Have zero idea,

dealt with this three years ago this month. SIL was terminal with Brain Cancer,and we went the Hospice Route.

Her Neighbor's Family got caught up in the Claw Back. Farming operation transferred to his Son's. Was costly to say the least. Fortunately for the Son's,they were able to raise the necessary money to cover the Claw Back.

[TalenaGor]

13. Jesus f****** Christ are you saying that I'm going to have to pay what she's used already???

[Wellstone ruled]

16. Hopefully not.

Only fimiliar with two states. Do know the one went off the rails five years ago. The other is compassionate.

[3Hotdogs]

10. Is it a nursing home or an assisted living facility? More likely you are correct, nursing home. But

it does make a difference.

Is she now on Medicaid? That happens when the person's financial resources are exhausted. Is the prognosis for long term care? Short term care, then assisted living? Or short term life expectancy?

There are at least three resources for you to investigate. One is the social worker at the present facility. That was already suggested. Two is the social services office in her community of residence.

Three is an elder law attorney. That is the last resort because it costs money... usually a couple of thousand. IF either 1 or 2 can't solve the problem of getting her on Medicaid, three is the choice.


Re: Your grandmother. No one is responsible for paying the bills unless someone agreed to be responsible for them. The funeral expenses may be those for which someone agreed to pay. Anything else, "Tuff Luck" for the creditors.

[3Hotdogs]

11. One more... have you agreed to the facility to pay for her expenses that are not met?

D'ONT.

They may pressure you but do not sign any agreements, at least until you get council.

[uppityperson]

12. WA has elder ombudsmen who may be of some assistance. Others have given good recommendations too.

https://www.co.pierce.wa.us/1302/Long-Term-Care-Ombudsman

This is for the Pierce co one. It can be very confusing, figuring it all out for long term care. And frightening. Does she need skilled nursing care?

[TalenaGor]

14. ty so much all...yes she can barely walk phys thereapy, occupational therapy..

Besides regular therapy for her to get better she needs help bathing..... And somewhat for toileting
Diabetes maintenance, medications, and she can't cook or clean for herself certainly...

[TalenaGor]

15. I'll add... she's nearly died half a dozen times and is just getting over pneumonia so..

she thinks she's just going to get better and be able to go to some other place.... Assisted Living maybe but I'm not as optimistic.... I don't think she can leave where she's at unless it's the same level of care