My parents have very little money. When one goes into a nursing home, which may or may not happen, if the other community spouse cannot make it (rent, food, utilities) on just social security, do they go on welfare? Story too long but my brother and sister will not help take care of my parents in any way. I asked them several times for help when I could not take it anymore and they said no. One is lazy and the other only wants their money, but there is no money left. I cannot take the parent that is left into my home because my house is not set up for that and it will ruin my marriage and my family and I KNOW my two siblings will turn their back. So I'm trying to plan for the inevitable.
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To everyone who is not working and is caring for your parents in their home.... what are you doing to secure your future and not create the same scenario for yourselves? I know it seems like good money after bad but opting out of the system and putting a single relative before your own needs is always risky. Example last year i spent $3000 a month on day care for my kids and my mom and I only took home $4000, so we were living very simply. BUT I was accruing years in my pension and social security quarters, my kids had full medical; we got everyone fillings in their teeth and glasses and I had disability insurance. These are all important things my employeer provided. This year I do not have that. I lost my job and the math works out (for my brothers) for me to stay in mom's home and care for her, but I have lost disability insurance. If I throw out my back lifting mom and we have to hire a caregiver for all of us, there is NO ONE who will cover it. We are all just one illness from poverty. Please everyone think seriously about the hidden risks you are taking. Mom's pension will only be here for us when she is alive. Mom's home will be sold out from under us and where will we be?
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Medicaid review of community spouse situations do a "snapshot" of the couples assets the day 1 of them go into the NH. This can be very good or very bad.
There are things you can do that can benefit them but need to be done in advance.
Say they are 50K over the asset limit. If they have a home, you can use the money to pay down the mortgage, do expensive repairs, buy funeral/burial policies, renovate the house so mom can stay there on her own (ramp, grab bars, etc).
So you have spent the 50K before dad goes into the NH and the "snapshot" is done. Dad qualifies for Medicaid and mom has a better financial & living situation.
You should get advice based on their situation and state from a elder care attny.
If mom never worked and her income is from dad SS or retirement, a portion of it will go to her and not the NH. The amount is kinda low and often she will have to go to court to get increased, which is best done by an attorney. Good luck.
Hire an ELDER LAW ATTORNEY.
The stay at home may be able to get a bump up in his/hers/ ss benefits. Put the house into a Irrevocalbe Trust TODAY. There are many legal things to consider.
Hire and Elder Law Attorney....They are worth the money.
Absolutely Assisted Living is the right environmnet for them as they need a lot of help but can still get to the kitchen, the bathroom and back again. That's about it though. Assisted living is not an option where I am as every facility is private pay ONLY. I asked, believe me. If I put them in AL, we'd have to break the trust in the first six month. When they outlive their money, the AL facilities say this, "Just give us a month's notice so we can fill the bed." That was a bad day for me. Nice.....
and families in need with a shortcut through what may be a bewildering maze of health and human service agencies’ phone numbers. By dialing 211, you can receive assistance, get referred, and sometimes connected, to appropriate agencies and community organizations.
While it's a good idea to apply for Medicaid even before the nursing home is needed, Medicaid now "looks back" 5 years so and examines what has been transferred to other people's names. Do NOT transfer the house or put your name on a joint bank account with them. If you need to be able to pay their bills, instead get a financial Power of attorney. I would also consult an elderlaw attorney regarding this trust issue especially in light of your siblings' wanting to get hold of it.
I believe that Trudas is right regarding the SS money going to the other spouse if they were to qualify as "impoverished".
Medicaid doesn't pay for much home health care, but they pay for certain things.
There are certain assisted living facilities who will accept a person or persons who are able to pay for 2-3 years (whatever they stipulate) and then will accept Medicaid after that (these are becoming few and far between but you might want to look into that).
There are many, many baby boomer generation families who are going to be held responsible for caring for their parents. I recently spoke with a governor who said "don't count on the government to help you with caregiving - there is not money. Both of my grandparents died in our living room and families are going to be expected to care for their elders." ouch
Best wishes as you search out your options and congratulations for being proactive rather than waiting for an emergency situation.
Shelley Webb
It took me quite a while to get over not getting any help from my siblings. How funny your and mine are about the same. Sis "tries" to live way above her means. She fools alot of people but not me. Shes a car sales person. So she gets to drive a brand new vehicle. Fooling everyone. She rents her home(pretends like she owns it), Her house looks like something out of a magazine when you walk inside on main floor. But don't go upstairs or into the basement she is a hoarder and its disgusting. My brother, well he is very inmature. He soaked what he could out of mom and has moved on. So I know how frustrating it can be. I used to beg, cry, plead and bribe them to help. But was always giving an excuse. Don't get me wrong some days I still get angry. But I have accepted it the best I could. I am here for mom and thats all that matters. I am the one who makes sure she is bathed, feed and taken care of. I am the one who stays up during the night to sit by her bed, I am the one that mom still knows and is told "I love you". Over the last 2 1/2yrs I have gained so many memories, some good and some bad, some funny and some sad. But those are MY memories of the time spent with mom. That my siblings have lost out on. Because of me, mom has been able to remain in her home. I have stood up to my siblings and lost my relationship with them because I love and respect my mother. I have set aside my needs and wants because I am doing the right thing. Yeah, it might sound like bragging to some. But, this is how I moved past the resentment I have towards siblings. How I turned the negatives into positives. I was never one to pat myself on the back. But when you show selflessness to take on the responsiblitity to take care of a loved one YOU DESERVE A PAT ON THE BACK!
Both of your parents should be able to qualify for medicaid. Medicaid will pay for NH and home health if needed and if they are able to qualify for Home Hospice that will help too with nurses and additional aides coming into the home. So if it is financial more feasible to keep both of them at home and use medicaid for home health care. Remember medicaid goes back 5 years to review income. Another thing I can't remember if you said the own or rent. If they own. then Medicaid will attach a lien to the property to gain back some money after they pass away. If they do own there is a program(in PA) thats reimburses some property taxes paid. Most utility companies have programs for low income that reduces the bill. Your parents because of income can get energy assistance that will help with heating there home(rent or own). They can get food stamps and there heath insurance paid for thru your state welfare system. They can get meals delivered to the home. On medicaid all medicines should be $0 copay or a small amount. Also there is home weatherization programs(waiting list may apply) but the program will replace heater, insultation, windows etc. My mom who doesn't qualify for medicaid recently got additional insultation in attic, new seals around doors and a new fridge through the Electric company. Contact your area on aging or go to there website they will tell you what programs your parents my qualify for. There are alot of programs out there to help with elderly to remain in there home. You might find more or less programs available in your state. I am sure it varies. But don't be afraid to ask for help the worst thing is to be turned down. These programs are there for a reason.
Many caretakers are in a similar position to your parents. they have cared for the medically needy spouse or relative until their own money is gone, and then the NH steps in and the caretaker is left with no money, and no way to get by without the help of the medically needy person's small income.
This is the situation: medicaid will help the person in the NH only after all said person's money is gone. If the house is in that person's name, the house must be sold before medicaid will kick in. So, the spouse living in that house? Dunno. But my bets are on the house still needs to be sold, and the spouse or caregiver must find a new place to live.
The world is not a kind place to the financially challenged. There is what you've termed 'welfare', in the form of food stamps, which pays for very little food, only enough to keep you alive if all you eat are carbohydrates. Not hugely healthy. (Which is why we have so many obese poor people, but that's another subject.)
So, what to do with the spouse after the partner goes to an NH? No one can take him/her in, so it has to be up to the spouse's income to live. First, I'd need to know the condition of the spouse. Is he capable of dealing with his own finances? If so, it isn't even up to you to decide what to do. If the spouse is a mentally capable person with his own income, you have very little to say.
However, if the spouse has issues that need medical attention, himself, then you may want to consider assisted living for both of them now, while they can both participate in the decision as to where, what, when. Remember, you aren't actually alone. They are still there, with their own ideas on what to do and how to do it. You may not agree, but then, until you have POA, you have very little to do except offer your opinion.
So don't stress. Ignore the siblings, and live your own life according to your own idea of what is right and good. They will do the same for their lives. It only hurts you to carry around all this anger weight. Doesn't seem to be hurting them. So lose the anger, and focus on the good things in your own life. Positive self talk helps. It may sound a lot like talking to yourself, but it does help in the long run.
IE: my brother just called and wants all ma's things shipped to him. Do I get angry? No. I laugh, and tell him he can come visit Ma and ask her to give him her things. If she okays it, then I will hand them to him. I can use the space in my basement. He tries to argue with me. calls me names, selfish bitch among them. I say: Goodbye, dear brother. I hope you remain in good health and are happy. -- then I hang up the phone, take a look at my grandkids' shining faces as they say 'Yuv you Gamma Yisa!' and I know it doesn't matter what my stupid little brother thinks. He's a fool who will reap what he sows. I do not send the stuff, nor do I even ask Ma about it. It is a non-subject now, since he won't visit Ma, or even call her. He only wants her money and expensive things because he failed to provide them for himself.
Your siblings are to be pitied. They may get nice things, money, all of that, but they will not understand how good it feels to be an unselfish, caring person. Live your own life, and let them go to hell in their own manner.
sorry this is so long, and really doesn't have many answers. I sorta vented. lol Good luck with the issues, and remember to find something to focus on that has absolutely nothing to do with parents or siblings. Sometimes, that can put things into perspective. Most of all, remember to laugh once a day. It doesn't solve anything, but it sure does feel good. :D
Lisa
JaneB -Your comments to me were very helpful and I wasn't offended in the least! Thank you. My sister wants their money or what she calls "her share" of a trust that is yet to be broken. She can't get it until they both pass and that is making her crazy. Although she gets thousands of dollars a month in alimony. She takes in 3 times the amount of money both parents receive combined in social security. She doesn't work or live in reality as she took her settlment bought a house she can't afford to run and a mercedes. Blah, blah, blah...the brother is just lazy. What is out of sight is clearly out of his mind so he'd rather not participate. My parents continue to jusify their selfishness but I can't do it all anymore. I'm a wreck and I blame my loser siblings for that. They haven't called me or writen in over a year. Ok, enough of that. The bottom line, I can't get past this; how much I resent them for bailing on me. Thus, my screen name. You are right in everything you say about turning it into a positive. I'm just not there yet. I want to be, but I'm not.
xo
Thanks again.-SS
One last thought: Write your future self a letter, and remind yourself what you know to be true: taking in this parent will harm your family. You may find yourself in a crunch and not remember.
And some unsolicited advice...see the bigger picture here, in terms of your siblings. I have no idea why they won't help but, in their minds, they have good reasons. Find a better name for yourself, one that identifies you with something good about you, or positive in your life, or even just your name or nickname. It may be that you see other options in this situation, if you can look at it through a lens which is less fraught and murky than your siblings' selfishness. You can't change them, so try to identify with and as something better. I hope you aren't offended...it wasn't meant to offend or to add to your burden.