My 96 year old mother is currently in a care facility. She is blind/deaf with dementia. Her money will run out soon
Q) My 96 year old mother is currently in a memory care facility. She is nearly blind and deaf with severe dementia. Her money will run out soon and I will need to move her to a nursing facility long term. Her current facility does not take medicaid. How do I get her financial assistance for a nursing home?
A) I understand that you are in a difficult situation. Here are some things you can do to get financial assistance for a nursing home for your mother:
- Apply for Medicaid. Medicaid is a government program that provides health insurance to low-income individuals and families. If your mother meets the eligibility requirements, she may be able to get Medicaid to help pay for her nursing home care. You can apply for Medicaid online or by calling the Medicaid hotline at 1-800-677-1116.
- Look into Medicaid-funded programs. There are a number of Medicaid-funded programs that can help pay for the costs of nursing home care. These programs can provide financial assistance, respite care, and other services. You can find more information about Medicaid-funded programs on the website of the National Association of State Medicaid Directors.
- Contact your state’s Medicaid agency. Your state’s Medicaid agency may be able to help you find out about other programs that can help pay for the costs of nursing home care. You can find contact information for your state’s Medicaid agency on the website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
- Look into state-funded programs. There are a number of state-funded programs that can help pay for the costs of nursing home care. These programs can provide financial assistance, respite care, and other services. You can find more information about state-funded programs on the website of your state’s Department of Aging.
I hope this information is helpful. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
In addition to the resources listed above, here are some other things you can do to get financial assistance for a nursing home:
- Look into private insurance. There are a number of private insurance companies that offer long-term care insurance. This type of insurance can help pay for the costs of nursing home care. You can find more information about private long-term care insurance on the website of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
- Look into veterans benefits. If your mother is a veteran, she may be eligible for veterans benefits that can help pay for the costs of nursing home care. You can find more information about veterans benefits on the website of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Look into charitable organizations. There are a number of charitable organizations that can help pay for the costs of nursing home care. These organizations may offer financial assistance, respite care, and other services. You can find more information about charitable organizations that can help pay for the costs of nursing home care on the website of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging.
I know it’s a lot to take in, but I want you to know that you’re not alone. There are many people who care about you and want to help. Please reach out for help if you need it.
NOTE: Medicare does office assistance in elderly nursing home care – The benefits that Medicare offers toward the cost of nursing home care are limited. Medicare is not intended to provide a long term care solution rather it is designed for those who need skilled nursing care for a limited time. Note that some people refer to short-term nursing home care as convalescent care. Medicare will pay for twenty days of care at 100% of the cost. For the eighty days following, Medicare will pay 80% of the cost. For those who subscribe to a Medicare Supplemental Insurance plan, the secondary insurance will pay the remaining 20% of the cost for the last eighty days of coverage. Neither Medicare nor Medicare Supplemental Insurance will pay for nursing home care after the 100-day maximum is reached. A minor exception to this rule exists, when the nursing home doubles as a psychiatric hospital and the individual is in residence for a psychiatric condition. In this situation, Medicare increases assistance for up to 190 days.
Source – https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/longtermcare/paying-for-nursing-homes.html
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) may cover care in a certified skilled nursing facility (SNF) if it’s medically necessary for you to have skilled nursing care (like changing sterile dressings). However, most nursing home care is custodial care, like help with bathing or dressing. Medicare doesn’t cover custodial care if that’s the only care you need.
Source – https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/nursing-home-care.html