Re: Long Term Care Costs for the Elderly (and editorial)

[Guest guest]

Hi Robin and group

Everyone in the group who has a loved one with LBD must look into MEDICAID

" IN-HOME " CARE! this is for someone being cares for at home only !

Every state has different rules for eligibility, but for example in NY in home

Medicaid does not have a look back period at all and your home or loved ones IRA

Does not count as an asset !

If the person has less than 13,000 in their name - their income ( SS + IRA

income is pooled into a " non - profit pooled income trust - this money is used

to pay for rent, electric, food, phone etc. While Medicaid covers all health

care aides and medical bills including medications !

The rules for eligibility are much less stringent than NURSING HOME MEDICAID ! I

only found out about this recently for our Mom - the application process is time

consuming and you will need a physician to vouch for the LBD diagnosis and need

- but application is looked at within 30 days - and the assistance is huge - all

money transferred from a persons name is to be used to supplement for patients

care !

Check it out ! It's different in every state -

Best ,

Judy

Judy R. Strauss LMSW PhD

Lead Faculty

University of Phoenix

Jersey City Campus

100 Town Square Place

|Jersey City, NJ 07310

Cell-

Email- Jrstr@...

On Oct 15, 2011, at 9:14 PM, " rriddle_travel "

wrote:

> I'm sure many of you will agree with parts of this editorial in

> today's New York Times. The author states that while Medicare will

> pay for surgery, tests, hospital stays, ER visits, etc. for the

> elderly, Medicare does not pay for what the elderly truly need --

> " long-term care in a supervised, safe place for frail or demented old

> people, or for home aides to help with shopping, transportation,

> bathing and using the toilet. "

>

> The main reason I'm circulating this article is for the data about

> the cost of care for the elderly:

>

> * " Nationwide, the median annual cost of a nursing home in 2010 was

> $75,000; room and board in an assisted living facility, with no

> additional help, was $37,500; and the most basic category of home

> health aide, who can perform no medical tasks, like the dispensing of

> medication, was $19 an hour. "

>

> * " A recent state-by-state study of long-term care, the first of its

> kind, by a consortium of researchers, has found that this kind of

> essential help costs anywhere from 166 percent to 393 percent of the

> average annual income of America's elderly. "

>

> * " By now, you may be wondering if your parents have a half million

> dollars for old age. Or if you or your children do. "

>

> * " 70 percent of the elderly will need extended care before they die. "

>

> Here's a link to the article.

>

> Robin

>

>

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/opinion/sunday/how-medicare-fails-the-elderly.\

html

>

> New York Times

> Published: October 15, 2011

>

> OPINION

> How Medicare Fails the Elderly

> By Jane Gross

>

>

[Guest guest]

It is most helpful Judy. Estate attorneys can do what’s called

“medi-cal†planning (in California) and same for medicaid planning in other

states. They know the ins and outs of the rules (as long as you use an estate

attorney) and are reasonable. I tried to get this done for years with my mil

but my sil got upset about it and refused to cooperate. The attorney was going

to set up the trust properly for $1100.00 before my sil had a huge fit. She

was going to spend all her funds and put her in a nursing home right before the

funds were gone thinking if she paid in full at the nursing home for six months

before going on medi cal they would treat her nicely. Two years later her money

was gone and she resigned as power of attorney. Was too late to save anything

then. Now my mil’s savings is gone and we have taken more out of our 401ks

for her care – but she is getting the medi-cal and in home support service

(IHSS) which does help some.

In California, IHSS does not provide more than about 290 hours a month at the

maximum level of need – that is someone who cannot walk, incontinent, cannot

feed themselves or dress themselves etc. and cannot be left alone. You have

to use a caregiver that’s fingerprinted etc. and gone to the orientation (and

must have a social security card (not a copy) to present for verification). If

a family member is the sole caregiver – they can ALSO be paid for this if the

person qualifies – but they still have to go through the orientation,

fingerprinting stuff. If you have more than one caregiver you can have both

qualify or just one (as long as their hours match what they pay).

The social worker who came out to evaluate the level of care need for my mil was

completely unprepared for LBD – she kept telling me on the phone how rare it

is that someone qualifies for all the hours and I said well let’s just see.

10 minutes into it she quickly finished the forms and told me my mil qualifies

for all the hours. If there is a monthly income that is above their allowable

they can still qualify for a share of cost. Sometimes the share of cost is high

but every little bit helps and there are ways to get a credit for supplies that

is also worth the effort.

In CA (not sure about other states but check) ANYTHING that has to be purchased

for care specially – vitamins, ensure, poise and depends, miralax, gaviscon,

etc. can count as a medical expense and be credited in favor of the patient

(especially helpful if there is a share of cost) as long as the doctor signs

that he is directing these things to be used. I made a list of the things we

have to use for my mil’s care – diapers, poise pads, diaper ointments,

wipes, gloves, ensure, protein powders, miralax, gaviscon etc. and her doctor

was glad to sign it (he is always glad to learn these things too as he has many

elderly patients). Each month I send in the receipts for what was purchased

on the list and my mil gets credit for it – which directly lowers her share of

cost. Anything that a doctor or home health has advised, suggested, directed

works for this credit., just get a note signed by the doctor to make it legit in

the eyes of IHSS.

-Dorothy

From: LBDcaregivers [mailto:LBDcaregivers ] On

Behalf Of Judy

Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2011 11:02 AM

To: LBDcaregivers

Subject: Re: Long Term Care Costs for the Elderly (and

editorial)

Hi Robin and group

Everyone in the group who has a loved one with LBD must look into MEDICAID

" IN-HOME " CARE! this is for someone being cares for at home only !

Every state has different rules for eligibility, but for example in NY in home

Medicaid does not have a look back period at all and your home or loved ones IRA

Does not count as an asset !

If the person has less than 13,000 in their name - their income ( SS + IRA

income is pooled into a " non - profit pooled income trust - this money is used

to pay for rent, electric, food, phone etc. While Medicaid covers all health

care aides and medical bills including medications !

The rules for eligibility are much less stringent than NURSING HOME MEDICAID ! I

only found out about this recently for our Mom - the application process is time

consuming and you will need a physician to vouch for the LBD diagnosis and need

- but application is looked at within 30 days - and the assistance is huge - all

money transferred from a persons name is to be used to supplement for patients

care !

Check it out ! It's different in every state -

Best ,

Judy

Judy R. Strauss LMSW PhD

Lead Faculty

University of Phoenix

Jersey City Campus

100 Town Square Place

|Jersey City, NJ 07310

Cell-

Email- Jrstr@... <mailto:Jrstr%40email.Phoenix.edu>

On Oct 15, 2011, at 9:14 PM, " rriddle_travel " <rriddle@...

<mailto:rriddle%40stanfordalumni.org> > wrote:

> I'm sure many of you will agree with parts of this editorial in

> today's New York Times. The author states that while Medicare will

> pay for surgery, tests, hospital stays, ER visits, etc. for the

> elderly, Medicare does not pay for what the elderly truly need --

> " long-term care in a supervised, safe place for frail or demented old

> people, or for home aides to help with shopping, transportation,

> bathing and using the toilet. "

>

> The main reason I'm circulating this article is for the data about

> the cost of care for the elderly:

>

> * " Nationwide, the median annual cost of a nursing home in 2010 was

> $75,000; room and board in an assisted living facility, with no

> additional help, was $37,500; and the most basic category of home

> health aide, who can perform no medical tasks, like the dispensing of

> medication, was $19 an hour. "

>

> * " A recent state-by-state study of long-term care, the first of its

> kind, by a consortium of researchers, has found that this kind of

> essential help costs anywhere from 166 percent to 393 percent of the

> average annual income of America's elderly. "

>

> * " By now, you may be wondering if your parents have a half million

> dollars for old age. Or if you or your children do. "

>

> * " 70 percent of the elderly will need extended care before they die. "

>

> Here's a link to the article.

>

> Robin

>

>

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/opinion/sunday/how-medicare-fails-the-elderly.\

html

>

> New York Times

> Published: October 15, 2011

>

> OPINION

> How Medicare Fails the Elderly

> By Jane Gross

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Dorothy

I appreciate your comments about Medicaid and also your explanation of what is

yet to come ! I understand ca is similar in it's leniency of in home Medicaid

like ny -

I am stunned ur sister in law - who i am assuming is the biological

Daughter would have stood in the way if a completely legal application for

Medicaid ! I believe doing this is something my mother would be pleased with !

My parents were not wealthy but whatever they accumulated as immigrants to the

USA was worked hard for - it is in my mind honorable to preserve whatever we can

for what my mom willed to her children and grandchildren !!

In the mean time your numbers are similar to mine - -app 1400 to apply and 250

to set the trust up - the non profit takes 10% off the surplus - another caveat

that would follow in the nature of my parents who were charitable to non profit

organization in the plight to help others less fortunate ! although

dissapontingly my eldercare attorney wants $5000 to do the same !!

All in all it is nice to know that the state is willing to help With moms

health care since as we all know the costs of caring for a lo With LBD can strip

any middle class family of all their savings !! And as you say Dorothy every

little bit helps !!

Judy R. Strauss LMSW PhD

Lead Faculty

University of Phoenix

Jersey City Campus

100 Town Square Place

|Jersey City, NJ 07310

Cell-

Email- Jrstr@...

> It is most helpful Judy. Estate attorneys can do what’s called

“medi-cal†planning (in California) and same for medicaid planning in other

states. They know the ins and outs of the rules (as long as you use an estate

attorney) and are reasonable. I tried to get this done for years with my mil but

my sil got upset about it and refused to cooperate. The attorney was going to

set up the trust properly for $1100.00 before my sil had a huge fit. She was

going to spend all her funds and put her in a nursing home right before the

funds were gone thinking if she paid in full at the nursing home for six months

before going on medi cal they would treat her nicely. Two years later her money

was gone and she resigned as power of attorney. Was too late to save anything

then. Now my mil’s savings is gone and we have taken more out of our 401ks for

her care – but she is getting the medi-cal and in home support service (IHSS)

which does help some.

>

> In California, IHSS does not provide more than about 290 hours a month at the

maximum level of need – that is someone who cannot walk, incontinent, cannot

feed themselves or dress themselves etc. and cannot be left alone. You have to

use a caregiver that’s fingerprinted etc. and gone to the orientation (and

must have a social security card (not a copy) to present for verification). If a

family member is the sole caregiver – they can ALSO be paid for this if the

person qualifies – but they still have to go through the orientation,

fingerprinting stuff. If you have more than one caregiver you can have both

qualify or just one (as long as their hours match what they pay).

>

> The social worker who came out to evaluate the level of care need for my mil

was completely unprepared for LBD – she kept telling me on the phone how rare

it is that someone qualifies for all the hours and I said well let’s just see.

10 minutes into it she quickly finished the forms and told me my mil qualifies

for all the hours. If there is a monthly income that is above their allowable

they can still qualify for a share of cost. Sometimes the share of cost is high

but every little bit helps and there are ways to get a credit for supplies that

is also worth the effort.

>

> In CA (not sure about other states but check) ANYTHING that has to be

purchased for care specially – vitamins, ensure, poise and depends, miralax,

gaviscon, etc. can count as a medical expense and be credited in favor of the

patient (especially helpful if there is a share of cost) as long as the doctor

signs that he is directing these things to be used. I made a list of the things

we have to use for my mil’s care – diapers, poise pads, diaper ointments,

wipes, gloves, ensure, protein powders, miralax, gaviscon etc. and her doctor

was glad to sign it (he is always glad to learn these things too as he has many

elderly patients). Each month I send in the receipts for what was purchased on

the list and my mil gets credit for it – which directly lowers her share of

cost. Anything that a doctor or home health has advised, suggested, directed

works for this credit., just get a note signed by the doctor to make it legit in

the eyes of IHSS.

>

> -Dorothy

>

> From: LBDcaregivers [mailto:LBDcaregivers ] On

Behalf Of Judy

> Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2011 11:02 AM

> To: LBDcaregivers

> Subject: Re: Long Term Care Costs for the Elderly (and

editorial)

>

> Hi Robin and group

>

> Everyone in the group who has a loved one with LBD must look into MEDICAID

" IN-HOME " CARE! this is for someone being cares for at home only !

>

> Every state has different rules for eligibility, but for example in NY in home

Medicaid does not have a look back period at all and your home or loved ones IRA

Does not count as an asset !

>

> If the person has less than 13,000 in their name - their income ( SS + IRA

income is pooled into a " non - profit pooled income trust - this money is used

to pay for rent, electric, food, phone etc. While Medicaid covers all health

care aides and medical bills including medications !

>

> The rules for eligibility are much less stringent than NURSING HOME MEDICAID !

I only found out about this recently for our Mom - the application process is

time consuming and you will need a physician to vouch for the LBD diagnosis and

need - but application is looked at within 30 days - and the assistance is huge

- all money transferred from a persons name is to be used to supplement for

patients care !

>

> Check it out ! It's different in every state -

>

> Best ,

>

> Judy

>

> Judy R. Strauss LMSW PhD

>

> Lead Faculty

> University of Phoenix

>

> Jersey City Campus

> 100 Town Square Place

> |Jersey City, NJ 07310

> Cell-

> Email- Jrstr@... <mailto:Jrstr%40email.Phoenix.edu>

>

> On Oct 15, 2011, at 9:14 PM, " rriddle_travel " <rriddle@...

<mailto:rriddle%40stanfordalumni.org> > wrote:

>

> > I'm sure many of you will agree with parts of this editorial in

> > today's New York Times. The author states that while Medicare will

> > pay for surgery, tests, hospital stays, ER visits, etc. for the

> > elderly, Medicare does not pay for what the elderly truly need --

> > " long-term care in a supervised, safe place for frail or demented old

> > people, or for home aides to help with shopping, transportation,

> > bathing and using the toilet. "

> >

> > The main reason I'm circulating this article is for the data about

> > the cost of care for the elderly:

> >

> > * " Nationwide, the median annual cost of a nursing home in 2010 was

> > $75,000; room and board in an assisted living facility, with no

> > additional help, was $37,500; and the most basic category of home

> > health aide, who can perform no medical tasks, like the dispensing of

> > medication, was $19 an hour. "

> >

> > * " A recent state-by-state study of long-term care, the first of its

> > kind, by a consortium of researchers, has found that this kind of

> > essential help costs anywhere from 166 percent to 393 percent of the

> > average annual income of America's elderly. "

> >

> > * " By now, you may be wondering if your parents have a half million

> > dollars for old age. Or if you or your children do. "

> >

> > * " 70 percent of the elderly will need extended care before they die. "

> >

> > Here's a link to the article.

> >

> > Robin

> >

> >

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/opinion/sunday/how-medicare-fails-the-elderly.\

html

> >

> > New York Times

> > Published: October 15, 2011

> >

> > OPINION

> > How Medicare Fails the Elderly

> > By Jane Gross

> >

> >

>

>