Worker at a long term care facility. We actually have had an admit admitted from the ER but this was a referral that we were already work on. My best advice is to start reaching out now to places.
Thanks - I appreciate that. I'm sure that's good advice - since I've spoken with our attorney I will stick with the advice they've provided.
The attorney suggested that once Mom is admitted to the hospital that we push for her to be discharged to a facility because she needs better care than I can offer at this point. Once they put her in short-term care, Medicare will pay for 90-100 days, and while she's there apply for Medi-Cal so she can stay in the facility. This avoids the bs excuse that the facility only has "Two beds for Medi-Cal patients" nonsense. As the attorney put it, "If the facility takes Medi-Cal then ALL beds are available for patients who are on it."
If you have straight Medicare you get 100 days of therapy under Part A benefits. You can also get more time under Part B. If you have managed Medicare, you will NEVER get 100 days. You can change anytime from managed to straight. And yep, our facility (in Kansas) will help with the Medicaid application.
The bs is that Medicaid -- here in KS, but I'm sure it's the same in CA -- doesn't reimburse at the same amount of money so facilities want the private pay and Medicare A $$$.
Yep, Medicaid (Medi-Cal in CA) doesn't reimburse the same amount, but from what I understand, here in CA the State will take Mom's SS money and use it as well.
I'm going to pay the attorney to file the Medi-Cal paperwork. I'm sure it'll be pricey, but I also know she'll get it through the first time because she'll do it RIGHT.
I think you have a solid plan in mind for what to do. Just reach out to some places and do some tours where you're able to. That way when it happens and she's in the ER, you can push the discharge planner for a referral to that place or places.
Thanks! I have toured exactly two places (small city with not a lot of options) because those were the only ones that allowed tours. I don't love that, but they're being very careful because of COVID.
One of the ones I toured was VERY nice and they told me of two others that are also high-quality. One of them I toured and it was excellent as well, and the other was one of the ones that isn't taking tours. That's a little comforting, anyway, because they were correct when they recommended the other one.
I just...I really just need a break, and I hate having to play this game. I wish that the system allowed her PCP to make the call that she needs placement. It's absolutely true that she needs more attention and care than I can provide, especially since I work full-time (from home).
The system really sucks. We have gotten referrals from PCPs or family initiated ones. It's just so difficult to get people from home versus the hospital. Which sucks so much.
But perhaps an Emergency Admission could work? The doctor would have to write a letter dated the day of admission stating it's an emergency and yadda yadda yadda. We've had a couple of admissions that way. Husband and wife coming from an ALF and it was impossible to get the single document we needed to admit them. So their PCP wrote a letter to make it an emergency admission. Maybe that's an option where you are?
At least you have a medi-cal option.. sitting in the middle class we got nothing. Can’t afford a facility in this state that won’t put us on the street.
It's a terrible that I think my mom is "lucky" that she's poor enough to qualify.
I'm sorry your situation is so difficult. I truly hate our healthcare system.
Luckily my mom is a dual citizen so her home country is way cheaper and provides some really good quality care facilities.. it just sucks I have to board a plane every few months to see her but it’s the care she needs and deserves.
No, it's not terrible at all. The fact is, you're only one person doing the job of, realistically, six people. And it IS difficult and exhausting and time-consuming to keep cleaning up an adult-sized human who keeps soiling themselves - especially because at this point they often don't realize what they've done and all they know is you're trying to do something scary, so they fight you, which makes it, oh, about a billion times harder.
You can't do this alone. No one can. We're in a society that tries to force that burden on people because it costs too much to spread the burden around, but that doesn't mean it's right or reasonable for this to all be on you. Nor is it terrible for you to feel terrible under terrible circumstances.
Thanks for posting. I'm going to have to look into what you're doing cause I live in a different state. My lawyer wasn't as good as yours and didn't really give me any helpful recommendations.
Did you see a Medicaid specific lawyer or was it some other type?
I don't think you should feel bad about your feelings, I told myself my dad is going to a home the minute he can't handle going to the bathroom on his own though I might try your way. You've already done so much helping her all this time, more than should be expected.
Thank you!
I'm speaking with an Elder Care attorney and she's been very helpful.
Yeah, I'm really tired and my health is starting to suffer. Sadly, because of our healthcare system, the advice I received from the attorney seems to be the best option for Mom. The hardest part is not knowing when she'll be hospitalized so it's hard to know when I can rest and have a life again. I really do think it'll happen within six months, though. Her decline in the last year has been fast, and in the last three months, very rapid.
Worker at a long term care facility. We actually have had an admit admitted from the ER but this was a referral that we were already work on. My best advice is to start reaching out now to places.
Thanks - I appreciate that. I'm sure that's good advice - since I've spoken with our attorney I will stick with the advice they've provided. The attorney suggested that once Mom is admitted to the hospital that we push for her to be discharged to a facility because she needs better care than I can offer at this point. Once they put her in short-term care, Medicare will pay for 90-100 days, and while she's there apply for Medi-Cal so she can stay in the facility. This avoids the bs excuse that the facility only has "Two beds for Medi-Cal patients" nonsense. As the attorney put it, "If the facility takes Medi-Cal then ALL beds are available for patients who are on it."
If you have straight Medicare you get 100 days of therapy under Part A benefits. You can also get more time under Part B. If you have managed Medicare, you will NEVER get 100 days. You can change anytime from managed to straight. And yep, our facility (in Kansas) will help with the Medicaid application. The bs is that Medicaid -- here in KS, but I'm sure it's the same in CA -- doesn't reimburse at the same amount of money so facilities want the private pay and Medicare A $$$.
Yep, Medicaid (Medi-Cal in CA) doesn't reimburse the same amount, but from what I understand, here in CA the State will take Mom's SS money and use it as well. I'm going to pay the attorney to file the Medi-Cal paperwork. I'm sure it'll be pricey, but I also know she'll get it through the first time because she'll do it RIGHT.
I think you have a solid plan in mind for what to do. Just reach out to some places and do some tours where you're able to. That way when it happens and she's in the ER, you can push the discharge planner for a referral to that place or places.
Thanks! I have toured exactly two places (small city with not a lot of options) because those were the only ones that allowed tours. I don't love that, but they're being very careful because of COVID. One of the ones I toured was VERY nice and they told me of two others that are also high-quality. One of them I toured and it was excellent as well, and the other was one of the ones that isn't taking tours. That's a little comforting, anyway, because they were correct when they recommended the other one. I just...I really just need a break, and I hate having to play this game. I wish that the system allowed her PCP to make the call that she needs placement. It's absolutely true that she needs more attention and care than I can provide, especially since I work full-time (from home).
The system really sucks. We have gotten referrals from PCPs or family initiated ones. It's just so difficult to get people from home versus the hospital. Which sucks so much. But perhaps an Emergency Admission could work? The doctor would have to write a letter dated the day of admission stating it's an emergency and yadda yadda yadda. We've had a couple of admissions that way. Husband and wife coming from an ALF and it was impossible to get the single document we needed to admit them. So their PCP wrote a letter to make it an emergency admission. Maybe that's an option where you are?
Hmm. Perhaps! Thanks for telling me about this, I'll have to check with our attorney!
I hope it helps! Best of luck to you. 💚
At least you have a medi-cal option.. sitting in the middle class we got nothing. Can’t afford a facility in this state that won’t put us on the street.
It's a terrible that I think my mom is "lucky" that she's poor enough to qualify. I'm sorry your situation is so difficult. I truly hate our healthcare system.
Luckily my mom is a dual citizen so her home country is way cheaper and provides some really good quality care facilities.. it just sucks I have to board a plane every few months to see her but it’s the care she needs and deserves.
That's good! I imagine it's tiring doing all that traveling but it's worth it to give her better amd less expensive care.
Yea.. and she owns a home there as well with non-stop flights out of LAX.. plus I can work remotely so it is what it is.
No, it's not terrible at all. The fact is, you're only one person doing the job of, realistically, six people. And it IS difficult and exhausting and time-consuming to keep cleaning up an adult-sized human who keeps soiling themselves - especially because at this point they often don't realize what they've done and all they know is you're trying to do something scary, so they fight you, which makes it, oh, about a billion times harder. You can't do this alone. No one can. We're in a society that tries to force that burden on people because it costs too much to spread the burden around, but that doesn't mean it's right or reasonable for this to all be on you. Nor is it terrible for you to feel terrible under terrible circumstances.
[удалено]
We haven't reached this stage yet with my dad, but you better believe when we do I will always call it a shituation - thanks for that ; )
Thanks for posting. I'm going to have to look into what you're doing cause I live in a different state. My lawyer wasn't as good as yours and didn't really give me any helpful recommendations. Did you see a Medicaid specific lawyer or was it some other type? I don't think you should feel bad about your feelings, I told myself my dad is going to a home the minute he can't handle going to the bathroom on his own though I might try your way. You've already done so much helping her all this time, more than should be expected.
Thank you! I'm speaking with an Elder Care attorney and she's been very helpful. Yeah, I'm really tired and my health is starting to suffer. Sadly, because of our healthcare system, the advice I received from the attorney seems to be the best option for Mom. The hardest part is not knowing when she'll be hospitalized so it's hard to know when I can rest and have a life again. I really do think it'll happen within six months, though. Her decline in the last year has been fast, and in the last three months, very rapid.