Hi everyone
Question. We as a family are thinking of getting help for my mom if she is ok to go home. MAYBE home care BUT we do not know if she will have strength more she is in rehab because of covid. COVID took her strength and her mobility more (EVEN THOUGH her mobility was not that great to begin with) So we are taking it day by day praying she will get her strength a little back but we are also thinking other options like nursing home. MY question is I would like to find reviews on nursing homes in different cities BEFORE WE even decide to put my mother in one! I am iffy in putting her in one but we cannot care for her 24/7 IF does what she needs. SO does anyone know where I can go find reviews on nursing homes to find out more about them each one if they have good reviews or bad. thank you!!!
"Looking for a place for my mom who is coming out of rehab she is immobile and needs care she is 85 years old she does not have much assets at all she is low income. We do not want to put her in nursing home. I heard some places pay for assisted living her insurance or some programs help with that. We has her family feel nursing home is not where we want to take her. Please help and let me know some different resources places that they have elderly care where she can live"
1) if your mother does not have a medical diagnosis of incapacity, she gets to decide where she goes.
2) if your mother DOES have a medical diagnosis of cognitive incapacity and she doesn't have a PoA, someone may need to become her legal guardian in order for her medical and financial decisions to be made in her best interests. This may be family (pursued through the courts) or the county, if the family can't afford to or doesn't want to gain guardianship.
3) if your mother DOES have a medical diagnosis of cognitive incapacity and she DOES have a PoA assigned, the PoA is the one who now makes the decisions.
We don't know what your situation is, and this is a global forum so you will get a variety of responses and answers but they might not all be accurate for your mother's state of residence.
Medicaid is run independently by each state, therefore their application "look back" period can be different, the app can be different, and what it covers can be different. In my state it only covers LTC and someone must qualify for LTC as well as Medicaid. Other states are more generous and cover some or all of AL and MC. Other states offer an Elder Waiver to help offset the cost of AL but not 100%. You will need to research what her state offers before you start applying.
Whatever NHs you review for her, you must ask if they accept Medicaid, as some do not and they don't offer this info up front. If your mother applies and then qualifies for Medicaid, she may be on a waiting list for the better places because the existing residents get first dibs on the Medicaid beds.
Being in a Medicaid bed means she will most likely have a roommate, so no private room. Other than that she will get the same care and attention as all the other residents.
IMO the more current and honest reviews can be gotten if you post a Nextdoor.com inquiry. I would focus on non-profit facilities run by faith-based organizations since they see the care as a mission and not just a job or profit center. Look for ones whose admin have been working there a long time (lesser staff turnover is not as big a deal and is the same all over). Be sure to visit in person when you don't have an appointment so you can see how things are at any given moment of the day. Look for a facility that has a spectrum of care, from AL to MC to LTC so that your mother never has to leave to receive another level of care (especially if she's on Medicaid).
There are also smaller group homes but my state has few and I'm not familiar with them. You can also use your mother's ss to hire in-home help, or contact social services to see what type of in-home help the county is willing to supply -- but it won't cover that many hours, maybe only 30 per week.