I cared for my father for nearly 2 years in my home 24/7. He passed Sept. 2021 shy of 81 yrs. I had no respite care or nurses aids etc. I was his mouthpiece, cook, made, appointment setter, Chauffeur, nurse, Etc.! He was diagnosed in 2020 via video appointment with early onset dementia and she told me and him that she was going to recommend that his Social Security and finances be given to me (legally) for she felt that he was not capable of making wise choices. During 2020, with coronavirus spiking, we tried several times to put this into action and was nearly impossible especially Villa filling out those Medicare Medicaid forms online because the offices were closed for over a year. I don’t know if anyone has tried contacting the Medicaid office online or via telephone but it was impossible to say the least!
I do have POA -advance directive But it really only allows me to make medical decisions for him and protect me from any of his debts Should he have any after death. Is it too late To claim any type of compensation for me from Medicaid? The only thing I inherited was caring for my father who did not appreciate a single thing and bunch of junky furniture that I had to pay a truck to come here and haul it away. Yes my dad and I do miss him but at the end of the day I will think twice about doing this again in the future. It is January and I’m still exhausted…
While things got behind during covid, the services/application process was not shut down for a year. More and more was done online or on the phone. It did take lengthy times to speak to people, but services existed.
You gave your dad a lot of your time and energy. Although he must not have expressed his appreciation, the alternative was much better for him. He received care from family and wasn't secluded from everyone. Find peace in your heart that you did what you thought was right and you're now able to get back to living.
Yes, it was hard getting thru to Medicaid. They were asking that applications be done on-line and hard to get to by phone.
But that really doesn't matter now, Medicaid does not reimburse for care. Some States don't pay family you have to hire from agency. Really, how are you going to prove you cared for Dad now. SS stops at death. So does your POA.
Very rarely does family get paid to care for a family member.
Please note, that the vast majority of grown children who were/are taking care of a parent(s) do not get paid, unless the parent can pay them from their own retirement savings.
Another note, once a person passes, a Power of Attorney is void.
So sorry for your loss of your Dad.