Re: timeline help-Community Medicaid

December 30, 2011

Thank you. We're lucky enough to be in good shape financially IF we get into the

retirement community. When he needs it, he'll get 24 care for only $2000 per

month. We can do that.

Â

C

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________________________________

To: " LBDcaregivers " <LBDcaregivers >

Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 6:40 PM

Subject: Re: timeline help-Community Medicaid

Â

Hi ,

Everything Pat said is wise and prudent.

I would like to add that community or " in home " Medicaid works differently than

nursing home Medicaid - there is no look back period for gifting - every state

has different eligibility rules after that.

For example in New York you can't have more than $13,000 in your name to

qualify. An IRA or pension does not qualify as an asset. Only the income of the

pension/ IRA counts. You can put the income Into a pooled income trust - which

usually means pension/IRA income and social security.... Where the trust uses

the income to pay the bills such as rent, electric, cable tv, phone, food etc.

for a small fee.

Once set up with all the qualifying pieces (above) as per the rules of your

state, Medicaid kicks in the cost of the home health care aides.

If your loved One will stay at home the 24/7 help that ultimately all LBD

patients face is the biggest expense....and can eat away at any estate rather

quickly.

But, as Pat advised get a hold of a good and fair priced eldercare attorney who

can review these options with you in detail.

All the best again,

Judy

Judy R Strauss, LMSW, PhD

Area Chair | College of Social Sciences

University of Phoenix

Jersey City Campus | 100 Town Square Place | Suite 305

Jersey City, NJ 07310

Cell:

Email: Jrstr@...

> My husband Bob was diagnosed the Parkinson's Disease in 2003 and Lewy Body

> Dementia in 2009. He stopped driving immediately on diagnosis in 2009. It

> only took one year for him to need to wear adult diapers for urine

> incontinance due to a benign enlarged prostate that causes constant

> dribbling of urine. It took two years until he was re-evaluated and

> declared incompetant to make any decisions what so ever. Now today he can

> still feed himself if I cut up his food for him in little bite size pieces,

> but needs me to dress and undress him, and do his shower. He will brush

> his teeth if I set up the toothbrush with the toothpaste and hand it to

> him. Bob was 73 when he was diagnosed with LBD and is now 75. He walks

> with assistance of one.

> Get your financial affairs in order, and have a Power of Attorney and

> Living Will/Advance Directives drawn up by a good Elder Law Attorney as

> soon as possible if you don't have good ones now. Do it before your loved

> one is too far gone to take care of it. Consult with a good Elder Law

> Attorney about future plans for his care. Will you have the money to pay

> for nursing home care or private pay nursing at home? Or will you need to

> go on Medicaid to pay his expenses? Discuss your plans with the attorney.

> Each state has different laws regarding Medicaid eligibility, but there is

> a five year look back period where the state has the right to examine all

> of your financial accounts to see if you have gifted any money or property

> away. If you have they will go after it. And you cannot qualify for state

> medicaid until you spend the amount equal to what you gave away. Where I

> live you are only allowed to keep $2000.00 in cash, one vehicle, and one

> residence. I hope you get to consult with a good Elder Law attorney as

> soon as possible, if you have not all ready done so.

> Best Wishes,

> Pat M.

> 58 Wife/caregiver of Bob 75 dx PD 2003, LBD 2009

>

>> **

>>

>> I know everyone with this disease is different, but I'm trying to make

>> some very important decisions and I could use some input.

>>

>> About how many years after diagnosis did your LO have before they were no

>> longer capable of caring for themselves? If you could also add their age at

>> time of dx, I would really appreciate it.

>> Thanks

>>

>> C

>>

>

December 30, 2011

,

I am very concerned that you are talking about getting accepted into a

retirement community. All the ones I know of will only accept " healthy "

people, if you already have a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease or dementia,

they will not accept the person. Are you positive the one you are looking

at will not decline to accept your spouse for that reason? These

communities have to be entered while you are still in good health to my

knowledge. You had better question the place about their rules of

accepting dementia patients.

Good Luck,

Pat M.

58, Wife/caregiver of Bob 75 dx PD 2003, LBD 2009

> **

>

> Thank you. We're lucky enough to be in good shape financially IF we get

> into the retirement community. When he needs it, he'll get 24 care for only

> $2000 per month. We can do that.

>

> C

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: " LBDcaregivers " <LBDcaregivers >

> Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 6:40 PM

> Subject: Re: timeline help-Community Medicaid

>

> Hi ,

>

> Everything Pat said is wise and prudent.

>

> I would like to add that community or " in home " Medicaid works differently

> than nursing home Medicaid - there is no look back period for gifting -

> every state has different eligibility rules after that.

>

> For example in New York you can't have more than $13,000 in your name to

> qualify. An IRA or pension does not qualify as an asset. Only the income of

> the pension/ IRA counts. You can put the income Into a pooled income trust

> - which usually means pension/IRA income and social security.... Where the

> trust uses the income to pay the bills such as rent, electric, cable tv,

> phone, food etc. for a small fee.

>

> Once set up with all the qualifying pieces (above) as per the rules of

> your state, Medicaid kicks in the cost of the home health care aides.

>

> If your loved One will stay at home the 24/7 help that ultimately all LBD

> patients face is the biggest expense....and can eat away at any estate

> rather quickly.

>

> But, as Pat advised get a hold of a good and fair priced eldercare

> attorney who can review these options with you in detail.

>

> All the best again,

>

> Judy

>

> Judy R Strauss, LMSW, PhD

> Area Chair | College of Social Sciences

>

> University of Phoenix

> Jersey City Campus | 100 Town Square Place | Suite 305

> Jersey City, NJ 07310

> Cell:

> Email: Jrstr@...

>

> > My husband Bob was diagnosed the Parkinson's Disease in 2003 and Lewy

> Body

> > Dementia in 2009. He stopped driving immediately on diagnosis in 2009. It

> > only took one year for him to need to wear adult diapers for urine

> > incontinance due to a benign enlarged prostate that causes constant

> > dribbling of urine. It took two years until he was re-evaluated and

> > declared incompetant to make any decisions what so ever. Now today he can

> > still feed himself if I cut up his food for him in little bite size

> pieces,

> > but needs me to dress and undress him, and do his shower. He will brush

> > his teeth if I set up the toothbrush with the toothpaste and hand it to

> > him. Bob was 73 when he was diagnosed with LBD and is now 75. He walks

> > with assistance of one.

> > Get your financial affairs in order, and have a Power of Attorney and

> > Living Will/Advance Directives drawn up by a good Elder Law Attorney as

> > soon as possible if you don't have good ones now. Do it before your loved

> > one is too far gone to take care of it. Consult with a good Elder Law

> > Attorney about future plans for his care. Will you have the money to pay

> > for nursing home care or private pay nursing at home? Or will you need to

> > go on Medicaid to pay his expenses? Discuss your plans with the attorney.

> > Each state has different laws regarding Medicaid eligibility, but there

> is

> > a five year look back period where the state has the right to examine all

> > of your financial accounts to see if you have gifted any money or

> property

> > away. If you have they will go after it. And you cannot qualify for state

> > medicaid until you spend the amount equal to what you gave away. Where I

> > live you are only allowed to keep $2000.00 in cash, one vehicle, and one

> > residence. I hope you get to consult with a good Elder Law attorney as

> > soon as possible, if you have not all ready done so.

> > Best Wishes,

> > Pat M.

> > 58 Wife/caregiver of Bob 75 dx PD 2003, LBD 2009

> >

> >> **

> >>

> >> I know everyone with this disease is different, but I'm trying to make

> >> some very important decisions and I could use some input.

> >>

> >> About how many years after diagnosis did your LO have before they were

> no

> >> longer capable of caring for themselves? If you could also add their

> age at

> >> time of dx, I would really appreciate it.

> >> Thanks

> >>

> >> C

> >>

> >

December 30, 2011

I've already met with the woman in charge of admissions and we have a friend

with PD who moved in after diagnosis. They've assured me there's no problem as

long as he's capable of caring for himself when we move in AND he has a healthy

caregiver moving with him. That would be me. He has to live in the apartment

for a certain amount of time (not sure what that is, but it's not a long time

and we're moving in before that is an issue) This is a run by a non-profit

organization and I'm sure that makes a difference in their rules.

C

________________________________

To: LBDcaregivers

Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 7:27 PM