Ok, y'all know my drama...86 yo mom with a crazy need for surgery to get attention..(No way to sugarcoat that)...and siblings who are just NOW getting on board with care and attention to mother's worsening health.
She keeps all her financial information between herself and my younger brother who has POA. Mother was recently denied any further surgeries and she also refuses any Physical Therapy or palliative care, although she states she's in constant unrelenting pain. Currently she is walking with a walker, but is getting weaker as she walks less each week. She is almost unable to get in and out of a car--20 minutes per each way.
She lives with my brother's family in an attached apartment. The family is busy and does not spend a lot of time with her.
Until about 6 weeks ago I was going to her place twice a week to clean and organize and do whatever little chores needed doing. She became angry with me and told me to get out of her life. So I did. She is now noticing all the stuff I did for her--isn't amazingly getting done. She's angry (heard this from one of the nieces) and she's lashing out.
My brother intends to keep her in his home even when she's wheelchair bound. The apt is not wheelchair accessible and couldn't be made so without tearing it all apart and starting new. The 4 other sibs involved are discussing looking into ALF's and may have to place her if she continues to deteriorate.
Dad bought a long term care policy for just this situation!! I know it is up to date, but I don't know how these work. Will she have to pay down all her assets before the LT policy kicks in? I think all she has is one investment (worth maybe $80,000) and some life insurance...and whatever SSI she gets. She and dad sold the house 17 years ago, most of that money was already gone as they had double mortgaged the house to help my oldest brother and youngest sister. Mom will not discuss money with the "girls" in the family, which is kind of a hoot as I do all our bills and home maintenance, my sister has tons of rentals which she manages and my younger sis does accounting for the huge hospital corporation she works for.
ANYHOW....we are starting to look into facilities, just in case. I don't want sticker shock. The only ALF's I am familiar with were the VERY upscale ones, that cost $8-10,000 a month. That's not doable. Any thoughts?? You've all been so helpful and supportive through the recent dramas, I look forward to hearing your take on this. (And no, we're not talking to Mother about this now---)
Thanks for you comment. This is exactly what DOPA is looking at. HE *thinks* there was an inflation rider, as this policy was written in 1998. He KNEW that it would pay $200 a day, w/o any inflation rider, so we're really OK financially. Most likely, this is going to be used as in-home care (which is qualifies for) at some point in the future. Time will tell.
I appreciate the comment, tho. Mother and Dad were the tail end of the population that thought SS would see them comfortably into their dotage.
I think mother will just very slowly deteriorate until she can't walk or stand. She's gone downhill very rapidly in the last year. I'm "home shopping" so when the time comes, and I think it will, we will NOT have a ton of drama. Well, I can hope, right? It's going to be horrible.
I'll have to have a sit down with brother this week or next. He's really non-confrontational---drives his wife nuts! (But then, nobody gets mad at Dr. No-Shot!
SO GOOD to know she doesn't have to spend down, that will help my brother feel easier--he's counting on an inheritance (which he richly deserves!!) and I know he thinks moving mother to an ALF will eat up everything she has.
Brother with POA is seeing mother this weekend to go over the policy and he will share pertinent info with me.
She has been in the second AL for almost three years. It is a continuing care community with independent living, assisted living, advanced assisted living (people with more health issues or mobility problems) and a memory care wing. The only thing they don't have is skilled care (nursing home).The staff has been very stable. I know most of them by name, and they know who I am when I call the nurse's desk. This facility is a none-profit, owned by a church denomination, and is about $800 per month cheaper that the first one.
Visit several facilities, and after getting the sales pitch and a tour, try to talk to some of the residents and family members of some of the residents. Look carefully at the price list to see what is included and what is extra. Ask if you can eat a meal there to assess the food and the dining room service.
As far as the long term care policy, these can vary greatly. You will need to read the policy to see what it covers and for how long. There also might be a waiting period before benefits start. You do not need to spend down her assets to use LTC policies. In fact, that is the point of them - to preserve assets while still getting care.
Angel