We can’t afford care for my mom

asoto · March 10

Hello,

My mom was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She’s only 63, so we are highly unprepared for this. To make matters worse, she has very little money saved and my family is not a position to help financially. She also lives in CA while I’m in WA state adding more hurdles to finding her adequate help.
We’ve set up social security, and she receives a small pension from the job she had before she was diagnosed, but it’s still nowhere close to what a memory care facility costs.
I’ve scoured the internet and tried calling so many agencies without any luck of finding financial help.
She has medi-CAL and currently uses the Kaiser network. Is there anyone out there who can help me figure out if there’s help to pay for a memory care or long term care facility?
thank you

lisn2cats · March 10

Before I got control of my parents' bank accounts and found that my dad had savings in place, I was panicking at the cost of care. I called her county's office of aging and they offered some guidance, suggestions, and resources including understanding Medicaid and what they can help cover. I don't know much about VA assistance but my friend got her dad's care covered. With Medicaid, if I recall my grandma's situation correctly, her savings had to be depleted before she could get coverage (she lived out her life in a rest home and, later, state-run MC).

I hope someone here can give you more solid advice! I'd like to learn more too.

Quilting brings calm · March 10

please call whomever you spoke with about Medi-Cal and ask them about eligibility for assisted living waivers and other options as it relates to your mom being placed in facility. I don’t live in California so I don’t know if Medi-Cal is the same as Medicaid. I think you should discuss Medi-Cal and Institutional Medicaid with an elder care lawyer

H1235 · March 11

I have attached a link that may help. Keep in mind that if she has too much money to qualify there are ways to spend down so she meets requirements. But you need to be very careful. See a lawyer! For example mom did a prepaid funeral to spend down, but ask a lawyer. What kind of facility is covered and the qualifications vary by state. You should keep in mind that some facilities can have a waiting list (like it’s not complicated enough already). I hope this helps.

https://www.medicaidplanningassistance.org/medicaid-eligibility-income-chart/

persevere · March 11

There is an instrument called a medicaid asset protection trust (MAPT). I'm no expert by any means but research this. It is subject to a 5 year look back. However, if your mom was just recently diagnosed it might be worth investigating. Trust me, time flies so try to prep now.

We can’t afford care for my mom

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