What can I use when she is too old to get LTC insurance?
Today I was told my mother did not have too much money (she's over qualified for Medicaid) and that she could go into LTC. I discovered last year that my mother could not get LTC insurance as she was over the age limit. She is now in Stage 2 dementia. Around my area a nursing home is over $500 a day. If I could get her back into Adult Day Care two days a week, that would give me time to do things I would ordinarily do if she didn't live with me. I know there is an Elder Care Lawyer the next county over, but I can't get an answer back from Legal Aid to set up an appointment with him. He only works one day a week there and I can't afford the price on my widow benefits. I appreciate any suggestions, but if you're going to be hurtful, please don't respond. I have enough grief in my life.
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If your mother needs to go into a Skilled Nursing facility on Medicaid but makes too much INCOME to qualify, an elder care attorney can help you with that.
If mom has too much in SAVINGS to qualify for Medicaid, then She self pays until that money is gone and then applies for Medicaid.
Why can't she get back into Adult Daycare?
Find a different elder care attorney that gives a free consultation, or save some money to see the one that charges a fee, if you need mom out of your house.
I suggest you clarify your questions w/o worrying about folks being hurtful. The vast majority around here want to help, but we need to understand the questions first.
"Today I was told my mother did not have too much money (she's over qualified for Medicaid) and that she could go into LTC."
This sentence seems to be contradictory. Mom does not have too much money and can go into LTC but she is over qualified for Medicaid?
Medicaid is based on monthly income, Social Security and any pension she receives. In my State the income limit was 2300 when Mom was in LTC 7 yrs ago. Then there is asset level 2000 in my State. If Mom is over 65 and a doctor declairs she needs 23/7 care, then she may able to get Medicaid if she is below your States asset cap and below your States monthly income cap. Some states have Qualifying Income Trusts for money over the income cap.
My Mom was in LTC under Medicaid. She had high blood pressure and Dementia and I had no problem placing her. There were a number of residents like my Mom. One guy had been with her in the AL. Had some kind of episode that ended him in LTC. He knew me and my Mom. Would sit and talk to me. Not every resident was bedridden.
LTC insurance is an actual private policy that people purchase. I don't have one so I don't know how age affects using the benefits in one's policy.
LTC is a level of care in a facility. It's not insurance.
I'm also confused as to how your Mom qualifies for LTC, which is usually assessed as medically necessary by a doctor. It usually means the person is bedbound due to physical or cognitive reasons and cannot do most or any ADLs on their own, and need more oversight than in AL or MC. Your Mom is only stage 2 dementia, which means AL or MC, not LTC.
Can you please clarify your post and provide more informatin?
Rather than an attorney, you maybe should find and talk to a Medicaid Planner for your state. The attorney might know of one. If one has "too much" money to qualify for Medicaid there are strategies such as state trust funds than can accept the overage so that one can qualify. Then those set-aside funds return to the state once the recipient passes away. Your state may have this type of fund (called a Miller Trust in some states). Again, if this is what you mean in your question.
Then if your mother needs to be placed, use her money to pay for it until she in fact does qualify for Medicaid. The facility social worker should be able to help you with that.
And use your mothers money if you need to hire an Elder Law attorney, to help you navigate all of this. There should be more than just one in your area or the surrounding areas.
You can also call your local Area Agency on Aging or Senior Services, as they can offer you some advice and give you some direction along with perhaps having some volunteers to come a few times a week.
Or as a last resort you can always have your mother taken to the ER under the guise of some kind of illness like a UTI, and then once there you can let the hospital social worker that you can no longer care for her at home and that she needs to be placed.
The social worker will then have to find the appropriate facility to place your mother in and can help with the Medicaid process.
You do have several good options, but it does sound like you're in a burned out state where perhaps you're not thinking clearly right now.
I wish you the very best in getting this all figured out.