My mother has been denied of any home health care. Can this really be true?

If she needs an aid to be around to help with daily living....there is no free help if the elder can pay for it themselves.

Medicare will pay for a nurse (an hour only every few days) or therapy (again, an hour only) if the Doc certifies her as home-bound.

Once the elder has total assets less than $2000 and income below $2000 monthly, then some in home help (very limited) can be had from Medicaid. OR move to a nursing home.

But...in home aide.....only if your mom can pay for it.

Next time someone tells you there is free help...get from them to give you detailed specifics....they will not have any because this is an urban myth.

Whether she is eligible for home care depends on her diagnosis. Her PCP can order home care from a certified home care agency if he feels she needs it but the visits are about 1-2 week for 1 hr per each discipline which would amount to 4 hrs per week.  She may need nursing & therapy but if she recovered enough to be discharged home and not to a rehab center first, her doctors may not feel she needs it for too long, as you had said two weeks, which in my experience is probably sufficient for a diagnosis of pneumonia.  
Otherwise you can hire CNA's from an agency like Visiting Angels that would be private pay to stay with her while you start your new job for peace of mind. I would go that route as she would then spend her money on care givers which would be credited as a valid expense during her spend down if she may need Medicaid in the future and you would be able to concentrate and more comfortable leaving to go to work. From the sound of it her needs may be temporary.  

So picture this--if you saw a sign, "free help for the aged offered," would you expect it to be true? No, of course not. Anything that seems too good to be true as the saying goes generally is. So, yes, you are going to have to pay.

Call her primary. He can order and evaluation with a homecare facility that is able to bill Medicare. I am surprised if she was in over 3 days that rehab wasn't mentioned in a facility or at home. With her history she may be able to have PT/OT. If she qualifies, you may be able to get an aide with the facility but only for the time she has therapy.

Call the DADS program Department of Aging & Disability Services. You should be able to get some assistance but you if she has too much money in the bank, they will not help.

Hi there! You are correct, there is no "free help" out there. My mother was picked up by adult protective services in Georgia and I went there to get her and bring her to NC, near me. I found out just how helpful these government agencies are. They will move in to make sure there is no neglect, but if they think there is a responsible party, they offer NO HELP AT ALL. If your mother has dementia but has not been "declared" by the state, you need to get a Power of Attorney asap. Otherwise, I would think Adult Protective Services should be called and told what is going on with your mom. If they find that you are leaving her to go to work, you will be charged with neglect and you don't want to go down that road. Since your mom will not cooperate with you, you don't have too many other options. Like the others said, Medicare does cover some home visits after hospitalization. Good luck.

Georgia is a filial responsibility state. So if the Social Worker said family had to pay, that tells me family got some of her money within the last five years. That being the case, Medicaid will not pay and they impose a "penalty".

kittysue,
When my Mother's Hospice tried to take her off their service because THEY thought she was doing better and I KNEW she wasn't,I went over their heads and I called The Quality Improvement Organization and appealed my Mother's Hospice Company's decision and we won and she never missed a day of care.Maybe this would work for you too.

" I have to work , my mother doesnt want to pay me, my siblings dont think I deserve it either."

How long has your mother been living with you? What was the agreement that she would pay you for household expenses? How much money does she have that she apparently doesn't want to touch? Why don't your siblings think you deserve money? What kind of caregiving are you doing for your mother now?

I know...lots of questions for you. But it would help to get a more complete picture of your situation.

Don't transfer mom's money to your name. Medicaid, when needed, would find the transfer then penalize mom the equivalent until they will begin covering her expenses. Use that money to pay for her care, then apply for Medicaid.

She is fortunate to have money in her account. I hope she gets well quickly! Maybe have a family meeting and discuss your mom's care going forward so you can all set up a plan for the future and include your mom's wishes if she has verbalized those to you or your siblings. Yes it is very hard. My mother had no resources except me & my brother; no real estate, minimal savings, never worked but we made it. I wish you luck.

Lindylu mom was in the hospital for pneumonia. She has money in her account which will disqualify her for any outside govt benefits. The social worker did tell me that she can receive after care, up to 2 weeks that medicare will pay for. People and family just keep saying "free" help is out there. Family is 1200 miles away. I am the only "free" help. I am distraught that my mothers dementia is getting worse. She hasnt given us the agreed amount to pay the household bills because the hospital stay was so tragic on her. (just found out dementia patients cant get out of their "SPACE". I start my new job this Monday. IDK wants gonna become of this. I have to work , my mother doesnt want to pay me, my siblings dont think I deserve it either. so sad.  I feel so helpless.  If I could "move" her money to an account in my name, maybe she could get some in house govt help.  She dont want me to touch her money.  neither do the siblings..

If your mother was hospitalized for an acute condition that requires skilled nursing/home care - ie wound dressing changes, post op hip replacement, etc and her physician agrees she needs it, she can receive nursing, OT, PT services for a limited time until she gets better and the home care staff have educates you, your family and mom to handle care and the acute episode is resolved. That kind of home care is usually 60 days or less if she recovers. This too depends on her insurance - Medicare is usually 60 days but some commercial insurance limit the amount of visits according to her diagnosis. If you mean home health care such as CNA's to assist with bathing, dressing and general supervision, those services are usually private pay (the family pays). Very few insurances cover aides or sitters; Medicare & Medicaid definitely do not. Those services are family/patient out of pocket expenses.

It depends on what she is in the hospital for, if they feel she needs at home care. If so, then her Medicare Insurance will usually pay for a certain number of visit for a nurse and Physical Therapist to come to her home. This is usually only a few times a week, and visits are usually no more then an hour or so.  If she was in for something pretty serious they might send her to a rehab center.   If it's not that serious, they may just send her home with specific instructions.  If you feel she needs full time care, then she might have to pay for it out of pocket.

I'd find out why the hospital feels she doesn't need at least a visiting nurse or physical therapist.  Then I'd get with your area on aging yourself to find out what sorts of resources are available in your state for our mom.   Good Luck!

Kittysue, is your mom coming home from a hospital stay, or does this social worker work with Area Agency on Aging/Dept. of Aging (or equivalent)?

Typically people pay out of pocket unless their elder demonstrates financial & medical need (per state's rules, usually done through AAA or Dept. of Aging) or if the person qualifies for VA program or Medicaid.

However sometimes when an elderly person goes home from the hospital, Medicare will cover a few visits from PT, OT, and/or aide.