Cousin is moving from NJ to CA. Has Medicare/Medicaid. She's being told by CA they won't accept her in nursing home there. Advice?

The rules are getting tighter and tighter because the states are running out of funds. You could be on a waiting list a long time. Her MD may not clear her for travel. Airplane cabin pressure fluctuations and lower oxygen levels can permanently damage the patient. Then there is the possibility she will change her mind and want to come back. Wanting to "go back" is part of dementia and should not be encouraged.

She does have relatives in CA...but they don't seem to be getting anywhere either. She moved here (NJ) from CA 4 years ago. Now wants to go back. When she moved here I remember I had to go to the Medicaid office and get some kind of temporary pass. Nursing home says they never heard of such a thing. NH in CA suggested she move to CA and stay with the relatives for a month while they apply for the Medicaid. That's not possible since she required medical assistance and relatives are not willing to take on that responsibility. It's a mess. Will check out the link you provided. Thanks for your help!!!

Her current nursing home has nothing to gain by her moving out, so I guess it isn't surprising they aren't doing the research on this one.

If she is moving to CA in order to be closer to relatives there, can the relatives on that end do the research? Have the picked out a nursing home? Can they work with the social worker there?

Here is contact information for CA's health department: http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/pages/contacts.aspx You could address your questions there.

You can also find which Area Agency on Aging serves the county your cousin is moving to, and contact them for help. This site lists them and includes a map: http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/pages/contacts.aspx

I hope you can resolve this quickly. Good luck!