My father is in Memory Care in NJ and has met their 2 year private pay. At some point in the near future his funds will run out and I will need to apply for Medicaid. His current Memory Care facility MAY accept my father and give him a 'Medicaid bed' upon Medicaid approval. They also may NOT. If they don't, where does the responsibility lie as to who finds my Dad a Medicaid bed? Is it his current facility, a social worker from the state or me? I know our Elder Law Attorney will assist us if needed, but curious as to if anyone else has been in a similar situation. Thank you.
Where I live in NJ, my local hospital helps with placing someone for rehab. In my area, rehabs and NH are one and the same.
I would talk to the person in charge of helping you file for Medicaid now don't wait till the money is gone. I am from NJ and I applied for Medicaid towards the end of March. Gave the AL 30days notice. Mom went into a NH on May 1st. Private paid May and June and Medicaid started July 1st. It was a 90 day process. Mom had to be spent down in that period because you only have that amount of time to do it.
The spend down for Medicaid in NJ is 2k. Dad will get $50 a month for his personal needs (PNA) which in Moms case the NH took care of. This $50 goes towards the 2k spend down so it needs to be spent. In my case, once I paid the NH privately, Mom only had about $500 left.
Figure out how much money Dad will have left after he hits the 2 yr mark. Lets say he has 28k. The MC costs 5k. You have 5 months for Memory care with 3k left. Now you can try and spend down a 1k of that 3k or pay 2k towards Dad care for another month. There is a 60/90 day window from filing to starting to collect Medicaid. If you don't spend down in that time, you have to refile.
I would not wait to discuss this with the MC Social Worker or Administrator. They maybe able to hold a place for Dad knowing what is going on. Just don't file too soon. Talk to Medicaid first so you go in knowing what it is all about.