Help? What to do about emergency placement if unable to live alone

MizRuby

 Any experience with emergency placement? Or what I should do. 

Back story. My LO is a friend of the family. I have POA and all legal paperwork in place plus oversight of medical and financial. LO is so far very cooperative. 

LO has seen a neurologist and is getting MRI and Cognitive testing. A neurologist follow up will be in 6 weeks.  The neurologist said he strongly suspects Alzheimer’s.  He also made mention of the possibility of revoking her licenses and deciding if she’s able to keep living alone. 

We have been organizing, making sure she has food, laying out medications etc. And I agree she is borderline to still live alone. 

If the doctor says it’s unsafe I’m not sure what to do. She has little money until her home could be sold. I can’t move her in.  I have someone who could house her maybe a month or so. Her place is to tiny to move someone in. 

Will Medicare cover an emergency placement?  Should I start getting her on assisted living homes wait lists? I know long term I can roll her over to Medicaid when we spend down. 

I plan to call both the Alzheimer’s association and aging and disability office tomorrow.  Funds are tight so I prefer not to get an attorney but will if I must. If it’s helpful we are in Oregon  

What to I do if she can’t go/be safe at home and I can’t take her in?

-Thank you

Cynbar

No, Medicare won't cover emergency placement. However, if she were to be admitted to a hospital for 3 days, she could probably go to short term rehab for up to 100 days (the amount of days isn't guaranteed, depends how she progresses but it would buy you some time.) You need to get her finances in order ASAP, and you likely will need a consultation with an elder law attorney re: her specific situation. That person will explain the long term care Medicaid rules in your state and help you apply if needed. She can own 1 home, her place of residence, and still get Medicaid , so it's not necessary to sell her home immediately. Once that is in place, find out what types of facilities Medicaid will pay for (they won't pay for assisted living or memory care in all states). Then contact/tour her options and get her name on a waiting list, if needed. Hopefully she will be OK at home long enough for you to get this process going, most facilities naturally require a confirmed payor source.

merrycaregiver

'Newbie' to ALL this--social worker dictates that dad (many metabolic/blood dyscrasias possibly early dementia/CVA) who is independent needs to be in nsg home/assisted living. Now IL Dep Aging (per me), APS (from same social sxs agency), & APS (per me via IL Dept Aging)

Feel my world is falling apart!!!