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Why is there no assistance to the elderly in securing affordable Independent Living Rental Assistance? The rents are exorbitantly high and unreachable for many who are on very limited fixed incomes. The rents that I've found are only a few hundred dollars less than the standard rent amounts in non-subsidized housing. I just read an online article which stated that more and more elders are living below the poverty level currently. Evidently the politicians didn't get ahold of this Study yet! bevwill88

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Wow! Thanks Becky! We are up in Akron. I have to give this lady a ton of proof. His prescription costs alone would probably qualify him. I had no idea. I owe you one!
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Ahmijoy, Nursing home Medicaid is a much longer process. I took my elderly aunt last year to get community Medicaid in Marietta. She had to show ID, provide a current bank statement, social security annual benefit letter and an IRA statement. Because her income was over the limit, she gave them an estimate of her medical copays and prescription costs (no receipts required). She got her first Medicaid card about two weeks later. It has paid off for her in decreased prescription costs, no doctor co-pays, dental care, eyeglass assistance, Depends and more. In2019 because she got Medicaid she will also get Extra Help from Social Security. This will make her prescriptions $3.00 each. Miller Trusts and 5-year look back is for nursing home Medicaid. Good luck.
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Becky, thank you for your help. I spoke with the agent at Medicaid yesterday and she said applying for actual Medicaid is a long, arduous and invasive process. She said they would not leave us “destitute” and mentioned a Miller Trust. But if I understood it correctly, he’d have to pay 1/3 of his SS monthly and still put money into the Miller Trust which would absolutely leave us destitute.  She did mention another option which may be the Community Medicaid you wrote about. There is no lookback, but I still need to provide paperwork for her. A lot of work for adult diapers 😉. It should be interesting to see what happens. Thanks again!
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Citizens need to vote for representatives who believe in providing a safety net for those in need. The recent tax cut went thru because people voted for representatives who wanted to give tax cuts to their wealthy donors and corporations. I have a friend with a private jet who received a huge cut because of deductions for his airplane. He definitely did not use the tax money he saved to hire more employees or to increase the salaries of other employees. That money went for him and his family. Get out and vote in November for representatives who support elder issues, improved healthcare and safety net programs such as Medicaid.
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Bevwill, I guess it depends upon the community just what services may be available. Have you contacted the county office of aging to see what you might qualify for? There is help for utility bills through the LIHEAP programs. There are food pantries. Prescription help through PAAD programs. ETc. Reducing expenses in other budget slots may give you more money to spend on other needs.
Frequent Flyer, Many would gladly help seniors ... the challenge is actually getting it to them. Every dollar that goes through the government coffers seems to come back out at 35 cents. : - (( There are many non-profits running on a shoe string that seem to do a better job of getting help to the designated party.
I'm not big on higher taxes but I do give freely to non-profits --- both my time and money. Our food pantry is beginning a special service for seniors who are on meals on wheels programs . It will help with nonperishable items for weekends.
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Sorry Medicaid waiver. I would also suggest going directly to the county office to apply. A case worker will push things along a little faster. Take photo ID for both of you and proof of income - pay stub, SS letter, etc.
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Ahmijoy, Try to get your husband on Community Medicaid. It will pay for monthly supplies of Depends delivered to your home. There is also coverage for additional medical supplies if a doctor prescribes - like the barrier cream, even if it over the counter. I’ve helped people apply apply and qualify in Ohio. Even if income is a little high he can deduct all medical costs to get below the income limit. It is definitely worth the time to apply. Most of his prescriptions will be greatly reduced as well. Getting the Medicare waiver is more difficult but not impossible. Medicaid has been greatly expanded in the last 4 years in Ohio.
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Ahmijoy, Try to get your husband on Community Medicaid. It will pay for monthly supplies of Depends delivered to your home. There is also coverage for additional medical supplies if a doctor prescribes - like the barrier cream, even if it over the counter. I’ve helped people apply apply and qualify in Ohio. Even if income is a little high he can deduct all medical costs to get below the income limit. It is definitely worth the time to apply. Most of his prescriptions will be greatly reduced as well. Getting the Medicare waiver is more difficult but not impossible.
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bevwill88, I know I would gladly pay higher taxes so that seniors can live a better life, but not everyone is willing to up the Federal, State, and local taxes, to help fund this issue.
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Hi bev,
My Mom lived in senior subsidized housing, in NJ. We also checked some others here in PA. The rate is 1/3rd of the tenants income. Since the government does the subsidizing, as long as you are in the U.S. this should be your rate.
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That’s the million dollar question. When I was middle-aged and began to pay attention to this sort of thing, I continually heard from my older relatives that “they” were always sticking it to the old people. 20 or 30 years later, my husband and I are the ones they’re sticking it to. We live in manufactured housing, aka a double-wide. We pay an exorbitant mortgage payment and a “lot rental fee” that’s in the stratosphere. We get no financial aid other than $15 a month in food stamps. We are “too rich” to qualify for Medicaid but too poor to pay our bills. My husband is bedridden and incontinent. I have one diaper left for him, no underpads, one pair of gloves and no barrier cream for his rampant urine rash. He doesn’t get his Social Security check for 8 days and it’s already spent on mostly overdue bills from last month that I could not afford to pay.

Low income housing? Forget it. We would pay close to what we pay now at 30% of our income for Section 8. My mother lived in low income senior housing. She had a tiny, one bedroom apartment. Not handicap accessible. We have a 100# Sheprador I’d have to give up. That would break my heart.

There are no breaks given to Seniors now. If there are, it’s so much work for so little, it’s hardly worth it. I’m about to apply for a Medicaid Waiver. It’s going to take me a week to gather all the papers I need. And in the end, I know we will be denied. It’s just the lay of the land.
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