I live in Washington State and am having trouble finding a Medicaid approved assisted living community in Western Washington. What do I do?

Google care advisors. They are similar to a realtor… they are paid by the facility placed in. They know what’s available, cost, amenities, reputation.. etc Get someone local who can meet you for tours etc. I placed 3 times with an independent. Twice here in my town… I used care patrol.. it’s a franchise, maybe there is one by you… an invaluable service !

You can go the the Washington DSHS site and find places, you will have to explore the sites. If you need memory care My mother is on Medicaid, and is in a memory facility in Renton called the Cottages. They have several King County. They didn’t require the two years, they might have changed that. Like other care facilities they are short on staffing and it could be better, but she is someplace safe and gets fed and her meds, and the staff are angels! I spent hours on the phone talking to different facilities, and finally through word of mouth found The Cottages which were just opening. Good luck!

Fellow Seattlite here....

We had the same problem trying to place my mom into a Medicaid facility after she fell in AL and shattered her hips. She would never walk again and her care costs would have skyrocketed to where she/we could no longer afford the AL facility.

The social worker at Swedish was able to place her, but it would have been down in the Kent/Auburn area. A nightmare to get to using I-5.

A part of me somehow knew that she would pass within weeks if not days. We instead opted to move her to a skilled nursing facility, which would cost us a fortune.

They could only take her on a coming Monday so she would spend the weekend at the hospital. She passed away that Saturday morning around 2am, so she never was moved.

To your point though, finding a Medicaid facility here is next to impossible. I think there's one up in Anacortes, and of course the facility in Kent (Can't recall the name) but maybe you can dig up a social worker somewhere and they can help. (Don't use the one in Swedish-Ballard... Poor woman is 90+ years old and hasn't refreshed her knowledge since the 1940's....)

I would like to clarify as a long-term care ombudsman that some assisted living homes do accept Medicare, but in our SW region of Colorado, they limit the number of beds and usually have a waiting list. Colorado does not have a two-year wait to qualify for LTC Medicaid in any facility that accepts it.

We are in Indiana and dealing with the same issue and I think it's common everywhere. My mom was in assisted living for almost 9 years and transferred into their memory care last year. So we have been a private pay for 10 years and she is almost out of money so we have hired an elder attorney to assist with filing for Medicaid and Medicaid Waiver. I began my search for a facility that accepted Medicaid and there are only a handful and they are booked. My mom does not have anything physically wrong with her so I don't want her to go to a long term care facility with skilled nursing 24/7. She doesn't need that yet. We found one place where a resident died the other day so a spot opened up. I quickly took a check over to hold the space while I get things in order to move her. It is awful. The difference between private pay and medicaid funded is night and day. You will be shocked. I have moms name on the waiting list at two other facilities that are much nicer and closer to my home. I just have no idea when a spot will be available.

Keep searching and good luck!

AmyB58: Perhaps you could contact the COA (Council on Aging) in your locale to speak with a social worker in regard to your query.

Amy, just read ur response to me. The only option I see for you is Longterm care which Medicaid will pay for. You can request a room together. Call your Office of Aging and ask if someone could come to your home to help you with the application. If you have any savings, that can be used to get you in the door of a LTC facility then u can apply for Medicaid. Or apply for Medicaid, find a facility you like and move in when Medicaid has been approved.

An AL will not be able to care for you once your illness progresses. They are not a Skilled Nursing facility. So I think ur better going into LTC. Social Services maybe able to help too.

Assisted living is not covered by Medicaid. Are either of you a veteran? If so, contact your local VA if so; ask for the Veterans Aid and Assistance form. They provide a stipend.
Check with Social Security - they and the internet should provide a long list of assisted living facilities. There is no 'buy down' to get into assisted living - but some places are intended for lower income residents. Get on a waiting list for several places ASAP - if they are full (like many are now); it can take 1-2 years to even get an apartment. Some places will request a refundable deposit; others will just put you on a list and call when an apartment becomes available. Good luck!

As far as I know assisted living is not covered at all by Medicaid in our state. Perhaps your local Medicaid office can share a list of facilities to consider. Also clarify with them exactly what the 2 years spend down means... if there is nothing to spend down then it seems you would not have to wait the full two years. Go to the source for correct answers because only they know for sure how your situation will be dealt with.

Facilities that accept Medicaid are rare finds. But once you find them, you rethink about living there. Sad.

Virginia has no medicaid assisted living help. At our retirement village you must pay at least 2 yrs with your money for assisted facility....when my moms moneys gone then they have a Legacy fund that helps pay the rent you can not pay. It is a non-profit community. Sadly many people who need assisted living in the retirement independent apartments side of my community where I reside have to make the best of it..some never leave their apartments…mom pays $4655 a month and only has showers, meds and meals as assisted living..

Yes, NJ Medicaid, too, requires 2 yrs, at least, of self-pay before you can apply for Medicaid.

ALs are private pay. So, if you have no money you will not be able to go into one. Do you have Care homes near you. These usually have only a few residents and Medicaid may pay. Check with Social Services and Office of Aging to see if they can help.

By Medicaid do you mean healthcare or "in home" care? The criteria for each is different. Healthcare allows you some assets. In home and LTC Medicaid are similar in criteria.

When I was researching AL/NH for my father it seemed standard that you have to self pay for 2 years before they would accept medicaid.

You can call a Medicaid Planner for WA state to get the most accurate info and maybe have a plan regarding how and when to qualify.

FYI if you go into a facility on private pay (one that eventually accepts Medicaid), then when you do qualify, you get priority for a bed since you're already a resident. Being a non-resident of any facility can make the waiting list very long.

Here’s an extensive profile on Life Care Kirkland ltc near Seattle.

https://story.californiasunday.com/covid-life-care-center-kirkland-washington/

It is focused on covid, so shift the lens.

Point is, this story reports that Twillas daughter placed her since there was no money even for a modest aide schedule. And if you read between the authors bias and the articles immediacy, and look at the facts, you can see how it is.

Its usually immobility or dementia that qualifies one for these places. Do you have either?

Call the Area Agency on Aging in your area.

Medicaid usually does not pay for assisted living.