Bit off subject

katenorwood

Hey everyone,

My Father is in the hospital again with heart issues.  He has black outs his drs. call sudden death syndrom.  (meaning his heart stops...and of coarse he blacks out for several minutes) and then the heart restarts itself.  He also has diabetes type2 and the middle stage parkinsons.  He is a patient with the V.A. and has medicare A and B.  He has been living with my sister for over a yr. due to health concerns after Mom passed.

My main concern now is....he's asking to be placed in assisted living.  Which is fine and great.  But when I started checking on this, Medicare and the V.A. pay nothing towards this.  No Long term Care would be covered.  Kinda blew my mind.....what the heck ?  Dad is 80 yrs. old and lost everything with Mom's dx of cancer and death.  So there is no assets so to speak of, zip...zero. 

I guess I'm wondering if anyone with knowledge of the V.A. or any of this....is there an avenue to connect with to get him what he needs.  I wish my health was better as I would take him in here, and the programs listed above do help with home care.  INSANE but true.  He doesn't want to burden the family.....I of everyone understand this.  I'm kind of a bear when it comes to my Father....so I hope I don't step on too many toes to get him what he needs.

Long term care is a real issue for us baby boomers up and coming....and if we don't have long term insurance to cover these issues we're screwed !  I can still make phone calls....it sometimes gets frustrating because I have a slight speech impediment from surgery.  but I always get my point across.  Darn it all !  Why is it hard working middle class people struggle so damn hard towards the end of their lives ? 

I know this is way off the norm.....subject wise....but yet pertinent to many of us that will be needing the care not at home.  Thanks for the vent time, and any suggestions and prayers for Dad are welcomed !   Katie     

Skiffin16

No Answers....

But I can provide prayers.....

Have they considered a pace maker for your father...?

John

luv2cut1

Medicaid

Hi Katie,

First of all, I am lifting up many prayers for you and your Dad. Long term care is definitely a big issue. 

I cannot remember what state your Dad is in, but have you checked into seeing if your Dad can qualify for Medicaid long term care? If he doesn't have many assets, he may qualify. I would start with contacting or looking up your state's center for Medicaid services to see what is available. If you don't get enough answers there, I would try to contact an elder law attorney in your Dad's state to find out what can be done. Many will offer a free initial consultation. I am an elder law/estate planning attorney in Colorado and am faced with this often.  Every state is different with respect to Medicaid services offered and qualification, but if I can be of any help to you, please feel free to PM me. 

Many, many thoughts and prayers coming your way. 

Myka

katenorwood

Skiffin16 said:

No Answers....

But I can provide prayers.....

Have they considered a pace maker for your father...?

John

Thanks John !

Yes there is talks of pacemaker.....but VA is pondering on if there is a bed available right now.  Also wondering if this would be a viable choice considering his health issues.  Waiting to hear more on this.  He was sent to a hospital that was nearest his VA clinic by his VA dr.  He will need to be transported over 200 miles to the nearest VA hospital for anymore procedures.  Katie

katenorwood

luv2cut1 said:

Medicaid

Hi Katie,

First of all, I am lifting up many prayers for you and your Dad. Long term care is definitely a big issue. 

I cannot remember what state your Dad is in, but have you checked into seeing if your Dad can qualify for Medicaid long term care? If he doesn't have many assets, he may qualify. I would start with contacting or looking up your state's center for Medicaid services to see what is available. If you don't get enough answers there, I would try to contact an elder law attorney in your Dad's state to find out what can be done. Many will offer a free initial consultation. I am an elder law/estate planning attorney in Colorado and am faced with this often.  Every state is different with respect to Medicaid services offered and qualification, but if I can be of any help to you, please feel free to PM me. 

Many, many thoughts and prayers coming your way. 

Myka

Thank you Myka !

I went online early this morning to start checking these issues out.  Yes maybe medicaid would be of benefit here.  Dad's income is borderline.  There is concern where VA pays and where state would pay.  I definately will pull in what we call in Mn. Senior advocacy in on these issues.  I think with the hospital social workers help we might navigate these issues a bit more.  He so forlorn, and it breaks my heart.  I talked to him and am going to have him sign some forms so family can help him through this.  In life he has always been our rock of strenghth.....and now we have to be his.  Thanks for the advice, and if I have questions I will absolutely pm you !  Katie 

jim and i

Praying for your dad's

Praying for your dad's situation and that God provides quick answers.

I often ask, "Why do they make it so hard for people in need to navigate through getting the help available? Especially the elderly."

debbiejeanne

katie, i don't have any info

katie, i don't have any info but will definitely be praying for ur dad and ur family!  it a shame that people work their whole life and then have to fight so hard to get what they should be entitled too, especially a VET!!!!!!    please let us know how it works out.  God bless you.

dj

wolfen

debbiejeanne said:

katie, i don't have any info

katie, i don't have any info but will definitely be praying for ur dad and ur family!  it a shame that people work their whole life and then have to fight so hard to get what they should be entitled too, especially a VET!!!!!!    please let us know how it works out.  God bless you.

dj

Katie

Sorry, no answers either. I had to place my Mom in an assisted living/private care home after her stroke. Fortunately she had funds in addition to her SS check which enabled me to accomplish this. My heart goes out to you, your dad, and family. I know how tough it is to watch a parent deteriorate.

I believe Tim went through this several months ago. By the way, where is Tim? I haven't seen his posts in a while.

I wish you the best of luck in your search.

Luv,

Wolfen

Hondo

Hi Katie

 

This is becoming one of the major problems with our elderly citizen who have paid more than their share in the system. My friend who lives next door to me is also a VA and it is taking him years to get any help from the Government for sickness he got while serving in Vietnam. They gave there all to our country and now that they need some help there country is not there for them. Our government is too busy giving money away to other countries and people who don’t deserve it rather than to help the ones who do.

Keep fighting the system and keep applying for assistance, we owe it to the Men and Women who are part of the freedom we enjoy today. I will keep praying that you find the right person who will get you the help you need.

 God Bless

Hondo

TracyLynn72

I'm sorry...

I have no advice, but I will continue to pray for you and your dad 

donfoo

no expert

Hi Katie,

I'm sorry to hear about more health issues in your family. I can relay my limited experience and exposure to dealing with long term health care in this country. Basically, it sucks. If you have purchased long term health care insurance, then look into details of what that policy offers. Often they have caps and such.

Lacking a long term policy, you then have choices to self fund as Wolfen has described. I suspect regulation and funding of local health care facilities varies quite a bit but you may be able to fund such care or fill in the gap. If there are other assets then you may be able to draw on that to fill in the gap.

If you have no assets available then you can look to Medicaid. Frankly, they are the stop of last resort and will fund long term care once all your assets are depleted. 

My mother was in a facility where her long term health care was costing about eight thousand a month. Long term insurance covered about six thousand and my Dad covered the two thousand or so each month. After a year or so they were able to find alternative care in a small residential facility where the costs were covered by the insurance. In the bed next to my mother was a lady who had no savings or assets yet Medicaid or some government plan paid her costs. That is my limited experience with various ways I have seen it work. 

But like most forms of government assitance they will want all assets tapped out. It is a sad way to have to loose your life savings to be able to stay alive but that is pretty much how it works. Best to you, Don

Duggie88

Katie

Sorry I can't be of any help but T's and P's your way.

The middle class has always picked up the slack and got booted in the **** at the same time.

      Jeff

TracyLynn72

katenorwood said:

Thank you Myka !

I went online early this morning to start checking these issues out.  Yes maybe medicaid would be of benefit here.  Dad's income is borderline.  There is concern where VA pays and where state would pay.  I definately will pull in what we call in Mn. Senior advocacy in on these issues.  I think with the hospital social workers help we might navigate these issues a bit more.  He so forlorn, and it breaks my heart.  I talked to him and am going to have him sign some forms so family can help him through this.  In life he has always been our rock of strenghth.....and now we have to be his.  Thanks for the advice, and if I have questions I will absolutely pm you !  Katie 

Medicaid

Some people tend to say that word with a look of digust on their faces.  It can be an abused thing, but it also can help you survive!  I have Medicaid to help with my medical bills.  I work, and have my whole life, but my job has drastically cut hours and has limited benefits for anyone.  My husband is an independent contractor and they have cut ALL benefits to him.  We work everyday, pay our taxes and still had to ask for help. The social worker at the  hospital made it happen.  I didn't even know that there were social workers there  They got the ball rolling and helped push me through. I hope you can find something that will help with his expenses.