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I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid. We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour. APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
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V. Complaints. Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights. APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.I agree that: A.I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information"). B.APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink. C.APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site. D.If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records. E.This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year. F.You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
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Mostly Independent
Your loved one may not require home care or assisted living services at this time. However, continue to monitor their condition for changes and consider occasional in-home care services for help as needed.
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She lives with me now but I won’t be able to care for her forever. She has about $110k in assets plus social security. I have to save for my children’s colleges and my own retirement! Thanks for the advice.
You find out about Medicaid. You do not use her money for anything that is not for her. If you are paid by her for her care or room and board you make sure you have written agreements in place. You document every expense of hers and she pays for it. Document, document, document!
Thanks very much for that information . I’m new to all of this and just overwhelmed. I’ll start documenting and get an elder care attorney. Thanks again.
With my husband (dementia and then a couple of strokes), I also was overwhelmed, but hired a really good Michigan elder law attorney to get him on Medicaid. He spent 1-1/2 years in a nursing home. We were by no means broke, but in order to keep money for me in my own old age it was certainly worth it and cost me about $10,000, but saved me thousands and thousands. As the primary wage earner, still working, I had to divest him of everything in both of our names (my 401k, bank accounts, will, etc.). It was heartbreaking but it can be done, and you have to provide the attorney with mountains of paperwork, but it worked and it is legal. He passed away on July 9 of this year and I miss him, but am grateful every day for the actions I took.
I'm going to get political here -- how do you make sure your mother is cared for? You, and all of us, must pay attention to what are election candidates are saying. Medicaid is there to help you, to help all of us who need it and who qualify, but it won't be if we don't vote the interests of our aging loved ones and our family members. Medicaid MUST be a top political priority for all of us with aging parents. I never thought about politics this way until my mother's dementia. Our elderly are not a priority for politicians and they must be -- we have to vote to save Medicaid! As of today, you will be able to get Medicaid for your mother once her assets are spent. However, I would start acquiring information about MC care facilities for NOW, so you have an idea about what's available for her. Make sure the facility takes Medicaid -- that's the first question you should ask, then go and visit. There are elder care navigators (a new field of social work) that can help you through the process as well. They are helpful. It seems overwhelming, but the more you know now, the better.
Unfortunately, Congress appears to be more interested in tax cuts than in shoring up Medicare and Medicaid. And it is Seniors who are voting against their own best interests!
Go to an elder care attorney--the law is very complicated and it varies from State to State. If you plan to put her in a nursing home, there is a five-year look back law. In addition, Medicaid has an estate recovery law--anything that goes into probate Medicaid can seize. If you plan to put her in a nursing home, all of her assets go to them. $110K will not last long--it costs about $90,000 a year to care for a single person. Quite frankly considering you will sacrifice your life for that loved one for years and years, it is not worth that $110K. You also better establish who is Power of Attorney and get a legal document drawn up by an attorney to prove it. You absolutely NEED this. Once you get Medicaid involved you will discover just how dirty the government is when it comes to money.
I am sure most People will agree irrespective how you plan for the future it very rarely pans out the way We intended as some thing unforeseen always seems to get in the way.
My husband and I retired at age 62 and lived solely on Social Security quite successfully, enjoying our retirement together for several years. Then he began to show symptoms of Alzheimer's (his mom died of it at age 79). He was at home with me for 6 years as his health deteriorated from Alzheimer's, CHF, and eventually prostate cancer. Late in 2017 our children helped me realize that I was risking my own health by trying to continue caring for their dad at home. So in October 2017 we applied for Medicaid benefits for him, and he was approved in December. Fortunately, I had already put the necessary documents in place giving me Power of Attorney, and other documents that are important. After Medicaid approval, I searched for a couple of months to find a Memory Care facility that would accept a Medicaid resident, finally finding one that is 40 miles from home. The distance makes it difficult for me to visit more often than once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions, etc. But I am so grateful for Medicaid because there is no way we could ever have afforded the cost of long-term care in a facility.
You don't have the legal right to save your mother's money. This will be used for her care if it becomes necessary.
But, you also don't have the legal responsibility of paying for her care - she will be required to "spend-down" for the much needed Medicaid if she needs to be in a Memory or Nursing Home.
You'd better be keeping receipts and records for where her money is going.
Please consult with an elder law attorney in your state. Find out how she can become eligible for long term care with Medicaid. This is not a do it yourself project. The rules differ between states and are very specific. The penalties can be severe. In California currently, a person can transfer to a nonrevocable trust $7000 per day When the money's all been transferred, they become eligible for Medicaid. (This is how the middle class depends on Medicaid.) The money can be spent on her care, but doesn't effect her eligibility for Medicaid. Again, check with an elder law attorney.
Addtionally you need to get a POA and a living will for her in place immediately. Medicaid is the way to go. 5 year lookback on how she spent her money, so you may need an eldercare lawyer if she created any penalties.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
As of today, you will be able to get Medicaid for your mother once her assets are spent. However, I would start acquiring information about MC care facilities for NOW, so you have an idea about what's available for her. Make sure the facility takes Medicaid -- that's the first question you should ask, then go and visit. There are elder care navigators (a new field of social work) that can help you through the process as well. They are helpful. It seems overwhelming, but the more you know now, the better.
That's the absolute truth.
But, you also don't have the legal responsibility of paying for her care - she will be required to "spend-down" for the much needed Medicaid if she needs to be in a Memory or Nursing Home.
You'd better be keeping receipts and records for where her money is going.
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