Moving Mom(8)

Traf1978

I am looking for somewhere to put mom in a new place. Running out of money and am looking for a state run facility that will take her social security as payment. Her Social Security check is too much for her to receive Medicaid. She doesn't have enough to continue where she is at. Where she is in West Hartford CT is getting too expensive. We have tried to look at facilities that will address her dementia, she is currently in a Memory Care Unit. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Rick4407

Hello Traf.  From your short post it sounds like your mom is running out of easily accessible  funds.  Memory care is very expensive, everywhere and particularly in the Northeast.  

You should see an CELA (Certified Elder Law Attorney) in the state where she will be living.  Medicaid varies from state to state.  If she has assets that can be liquidated to cover her care costs, the CELA will guide you in legally liquidating those assets until you reach a level to qualify for Medicaid.  If she does not have any assets to be liquidated then the CELA will help you to qualify for Medicaid for her.  

Depending on what authorities she has granted to you, this can get very complicated.  Good luck.  Rick

Klako

New to all of this too and have not consulted an elder care attorney yet. I did not realize someone’s social security can be too high and make them not eligible for medicaid? Can anyone share a bit more about this? I always thought you had to liquidate all assets but did not realize the amount of the social security check mattered. Just looking for additional information not questioning anyone.

Quilting brings calm

Medicaid rules differ by state and by type of care received.  Each state has their own income and asset rules.  However there are also two types of Medicaid.  one is when you live at home and receive benefits for things like doctor visits etc.  The second type  is called institutional Medicaid and it is for people who are in facilities.  Facilities that are eligible also differ by state. In my state, most independent, assisted and memory care facilities do not accept Medicaid patients. Nursing homes do. 

If you are at home and apply for Medicaid,  your income can make you ineligible.  If you are in a nursing home, it’s different.  Your income can be higher, but has to be less than the cost of the nursing home.  The nursing home takes the social security check and then Medicaid pays the remaining balance.  The patient can  keep a very small amount ( it’s less than $100). It’s possible that your state has very strict income rules even for institutional  Medicaid.  

You really need to talk to an expert in your state.

toolbeltexpert

Qbc that sounds like it is in tn. You did a great job of explaining something that had confused me when I started the process. My dw had qualified for home care but not nhc. Now I am spending down and keeping her in a private pay, 3659 and hope to fund her care thru the sale of our house if I can get enough. 

Medicaid is my last resort, which it sounds like Traf is at. 

Traf, Definitely see a cela. You maybe able to get a lot of help through the "area Agency on aging" or AAA. They had a free non titled attorney who had specialized in elder care.  

Stewart

Traf1978

Thank you all for your suggestions.  I didn't know there are 2 different Medicaid available. Mom is in CT so we'll how this goes.  Mom should be ok for about 6 more months or so but I want to get things going since I am 700 miles away and cannot go to CT because of all my chronic health problems. If you think of anything else please don't hesitate to let me know.

Jo C.

Hello Traf, it is difficult to get all the ducks in a row for such complex care concerns, especially if one lives out of state.

Many states, but not all, will have methods of qualifying for Medicaid Long Term Care. (Long Term Care is the important term as it differs from "regular" Medicaid).

You would be by far best served to contact an Elder Law Attorney in your mother's state and asking for information and input re what would best help your mother.

Some states, (but not all), have what they call a "Qualifying Income Trust (QIT), also called a, "Miller Trust."  In this, a person needing care but having too much income to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to be able to pay for facility based care, can open a Miller Trust within a bank and appoint a person to manage it.  The patient's income or part of the income goes into the Trust.  Then each month the person managing the Trust writes a check to the care facility to pay their part of the bill, and Medicaid will make up the shortfall to pay the rest of the care facility fee.

Speaking with an elder law attorney is important.  Sometimes a state will not have Miller Trusts, but will have other ways to manage getting around the "too much income" criteria issues.

https://www.medicaidplanningassistance.org/medicaid-eligibility-connecticut/

Let us know what you find out, hopefully there will be a way around this to gain success.  Best wishes are being sent your way,

J.

Traf1978

I am doing research in finding an elder care attorney, but there are so many of them. Some are pro bono though. All of my mom's assets had to be liquidated so she could move to where she is now. She took a huge hit on investments and taxes, but it was enough to get her out of her duplex apartment. I don't know about Medicaid but will look into it as well.

Ed1937

Please don't discount Medicaid until you talk to a CELA. People have differing opinions about legal things, and many of them lead to misinformation. A CELA will explain how they can help, but it needs to be someone from CT, in her case. It might sound costly, but that can be paid from her assets, and it is well worth it.