Our LO is approved for Community Medicaid but her (elderly) primary caretaker is very reluctant to use the services. There are personal care aides coming now who being paid from a LTC policy-which he accepts reluctantly. We would like him to use the Medicaid services as well as the Personal Care aides as the LTC policy limits the hours they will pay for.
I was wondering if there were a list of the services that are available that we could review to see if any of them would be acceptable to him.
For example, before becoming ill, our LO exercised faithfully. Since diagnosis, her caretaker has not arranged for a way for her to continue exercising. Does Medicaid pay for any sort of exercise classes? How about house cleaning services or other home maintenance? The caretaker is trying to do everything himself. He feels very guilty about letting other people "do his job."
The Medicaid services of which I am aware (personal care, transportation, medical care) sound like they will help him keep her in her home as long as possible. Now...how do we get him to start using them? We have been advised that if he fails to use the services, her approval for them will be closed. They are in New York.
Are your loved one's needs being met? I didn't know you could have Community Medicaid while using an LTC policy.
Why will he accept LTC paid workers and not Medicaid help?
I'm sorry I don't have an answer.
The private home health caregivers can be expected to do light housekeeping such as dusting, laundry (don't dump everyone's laundry on her but certainly the patient's laundry including linens), wiping down the bathroom (again, no scrubbing the floors on hands and knees), and get together a meal or two (no 5-course meals or cooking for outside family and/or visitors). "Light" housekeeping is just that. Light. This doesn't include home maintenance. The aide is there to care for your loved one, not be a maid/cook/carpenter. Her focus should be on your family member.
As for exercises, are there any instructions lying around from when your loved one had exercises before? Does your loved one remember the exercises she was doing? Either aide can take her through exercises but get doctor approval first. There are simple and basic exercises she can do in the meantime. Leg lifts. Rotating each ankle. Flex and point each ankle. You can roll up a wash cloth and have her squeeze this 10x in each hand. These are all exercises that don't require your loved one to get up. Check with the doctor for more comprehensive exercises.
As suggested above there are many exercises seniors can perform, whether they are mobile or bedbound. Before any exercise program is started please check with the person’s PCP.
If the 89 y/o caregiver is getting burned out, you may start looking at other options for the person’s care just in case the CG gets ill or debilitated themselves.
Is their home livable now? If the house needs repairs it may be time to place the person in a SNF.
When my mother was home with a community waiver from Medicaid, housekeeping, CNA, and physical therapy were all covered . She did not have a LTC policy, so, I can't reply to that issue.
I would talk to the case worker from Medicaid assigned to your LO, he/she will be able to help you.