I am only beginning this journey and still trying to wrap my head around the costs and how most people can afford to pay.
A bit of context, the person of concern here suffers from moderately severe Alzheimer’s and needs full-time care. $90 - 110K annual costs (average cost in my state I have been told) for a home is way beyond what we can afford.
Any advice on what to do in this case? I have done some research and spoken to a local area agency but still have a lot of homework to do.
Thank you!
Start with an hour of a Lawyer's time if the spousal income is an issue. If not, then the "person there" enters care when needed, spends what assets they have until there are not, and then are cared for by State and Federal government.
Call 1-800-medicare for their free yearly book sent to you that speaks of medicare and medicaid. Go to the top AgingCare timeline (blue) and go to care topics and research topics there. And know the computer is full of information from IRS, from Govermental sites. AARP online has a wealth of information as well. Wishing you luck.
Is the person you are asking about a Veteran? If so the depending on where and when he or she served the VA has a variety of programs that might help.
To find out if they are eligible you can contact the Veterans Assistance Commission in your county and ask. The service is free there is no need to pay someone to get this information.
there is a possibility that this person might also qualify for Hospice services if so all the equipment that you would need would be provided by Hospice. Hospice is covered by most insurance as well as Medicare and Medicaid.
Don't be fooled by the 'entrance' to one of these places. Often a lot of money goes into sprucing up what the common folks see--and the actual rooms are dismal, dark and depressing. Mother chose a rehab based on the BROCHURE even tho it was one in my 'neighborhood' that I KNEW was disgusting--and wow, was she surprised to wind up dumped into a messy, disorganized, smelly OLD rehab facility. She never got out of the transfer wheelchair, sat there swearing and throwing things for 24 hrs until we got her placed in a better facility at the grand cost of $25 a day more. OS just gave them her CC and said 'bill the difference to me'.
But--if this is a permanent room, you don't need the hassle of moving mom all the time. Check the place out thoroughly.
They can't take all the money a couple has--there are laws to protect the non-ill spouse, so all income isn't used for one of them, leaving them destitute. A quick chat with a lawyer wouldn't go amiss, either.
When it comes to Medicaid, a spouse who does not need care becomes the Community spouse. Assets are split. The assets of the spouse needing care are spent down and then apply for Medicaid. The Community Spouse remains in the home with enough of the monthly income to pay bills.
If you are talking about an AL, 4 yrs ago the 2 where I live were 5k a month. If two people are living in one room, I doubt if they would pay 10k. Like said, probably charged for any care they may need.
The more difficult part may not be getting the Medicaid approval, but placing your LO in a nursing home on your own. I've heard it is difficult to cold call, ask the facilities if they have an open Medicaid bed and get immediate placement, and a lot of facilities have wait lists. Many people have found quicker success getting help through the local hospital.