So, my grandparents have hit that age where we have to find them a retirement home because they are going to end up killing themselves elsewise (i.e. burning the house down, forgetting to shut the gas off, falling, etc.)...
My parents and I are looking into options for either Raleigh or Hickory NC, but we are also trying to find out if there is any government help that my grandparents can receive such as medicaid or medicare, or both.
Has anyone else had any experience with this and might have information that would be pertinet?

6/4/2007 8:44:38 PM

here's where you may want to start:

http://www.wakegov.com/humanservices/economic/medicade/adultmedicaid.htm

http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dma/consinfo.htm



it can get pretty confusing, so i'd suggest calling someone at either DMA or DSS to get more info on both programs.

6/4/2007 8:52:19 PM

Its hard to get medicaid for nursing home coverage. In essence, your grandparents have to exhaust their savings before they can qualify for nursing home coverage. Home ownership can be tricky, but they tend to allow people to keep the house in case they will ever be well enough to return.

Call DSS and you will get a social worker. They will handle everything for you and explain the financing. They will also take the SS check for payment.

6/5/2007 9:02:10 AM

we transferred my grandma's home to her children so she could qualify for more coverage from medicaid or whatever.

6/5/2007 9:04:56 AM

You have to be careful with transferring the homes. There are special laws that will undo the transfer. The social worker will tell you all about that as well.

[Edited on June 5, 2007 at 9:19 AM. Reason : k]

6/5/2007 9:18:54 AM

One of my grandmother's friends and my great-aunt ended up distributing all of their assets to their heirs in order to get assistance paying for a nursing home. It seems to be fairly common, but I have seen unfortunate situations where the heirs get whatever is coming to them and then stuff the elderly person in the nursing home and forget about them. There is usually a social worker connected with the nursing home that can explain all of the ins and outs to you.

[Edited on June 5, 2007 at 9:24 AM. Reason : sp.]

6/5/2007 9:23:52 AM

Quote :

"There is usually a social worker connected with the nursing home that can explain all of the ins and outs to you. "

you might even be wise to consult a lawyer

6/5/2007 9:38:30 AM

Do know if they are currently on SSI? It sounds as if they may be. If they are, then they can automatically qualify for medicaid/medicare. Nursing homes also have to keep a certain number of beds open to medicaid patients. Their best bet right now is to go ahead and fill out the paperwork for medicaid, medicare (you can find this on the SS website) and go through that process. If they haven't applied yet for SSI, they will need to do that as well. Most people are denied the first time around, so don't worry if they are. It takes about 3 months from filling out the paperwork until when they will get their denial (if they haven't already gotten SSI). PM me if you have any more questions, I might be able to answer them.

[Edited on June 5, 2007 at 4:24 PM. Reason : ]

6/5/2007 4:16:15 PM

My grandmother is 83. Instead of thinking about downsizing and going into a home she's whipping out her chainsaw, cleaning her own gutters, and trying to decide which 50' plasma tv she wants.

I swear she'll outlive all of us just out of spite.

6/5/2007 4:34:51 PM

Medicaid can be somewhat difficult to attain, especially if they have a lot of assets. I know you said you transferred the house from their name, but do they have vehicles? Any type of bank accounts? SSI? Life insurance policies that can be redeemed for cash? All of these things (as well as some others) goes into account for income.

6/5/2007 4:37:01 PM

She can sell her house. There are laws to kinda stop this but it's easy to traverse. Find a non-related family member, have them sign a contract to "flip" the house after purchase for you and then sell it to you at cost + flip price + some reasonable fee. Once they do, do some work on the house ($100ish or if you're up for it something real like a deck etc). Then have them sell it back to the family.

This way ownership left the family but returned and it's completely unaffected. It's perfectly legal (currently).

6/5/2007 4:44:58 PM

^^^ holy shit, a fifty foot plasma is friggin huge

6/5/2007 6:58:51 PM

my aunt just got put in a nursing rest or whatever it is called home. She had fallen and the rule is you have to spend 48hrs in a hospital and social services has to recommend that the person go into a rest/nursing home. Some weird rule(she is in NC). She turns 100 this year. They got her into the best one in the area though.

6/5/2007 7:19:53 PM

For help answering medicare questions call 1-800-443-9354 or go to http://www.ncshiip.com

[Edited on June 5, 2007 at 7:32 PM. Reason : ]

6/5/2007 7:32:25 PM