I am 71 and in poor health but am coping fine at the moment in my own manufactured home. The thing that weighs heavily upon me is the question of what will become of me when I am unable to care for myself? I have absolutely no family in this country, my nearest relative being an older brother in Australia! He is 87 and in poor health himself. My income is too high for Medicaid and too low to pay for assisted living or (heaven forbid) a nursing home. That leaves me with absolutely no place to go!!!
I started this research by contacting our local Medicaid office which is in with our Jobs and Family Services Agency. I’m not sure if this will work for us, but if it does it will be great.
Have you investigated low-income housing? You would pay a percentage of your income. If that’s feasible for you, find an apartment now. My mom had one in her city and it was wonderful. It was a Senior Housing apartment. But, she had to wait 3 years for an apartment to become available.
The fact is there is no cheaper way of living in this area than where I live now. My rent is very minimal at $235 a month. The utilities are expensive, it is true, but I have managed to cut them down considerably and find I am eligible for many discounts including Internet and email services for $5 a month!!! That was a special promotion.
It isn't so much about income and being able to afford various living arrangements because I am pretty well off where I am at present. My main concern is having no place to go if I am really ill and need permanent care, for example if I have a debilitating stroke or heart attack where I am certainly unable to continue living at home. I have called around locally for State and Government services but am not elligible for various things and others are very temporary.
Anyway, I shall continue my research and do thank you for your input. I also wish you and your husband well in your future.
Secondly, please consider joining a local church and some of its social circles. Members of these circles will provide a ride to meetings and often some shopping after a meeting. They won't provide direct care, but they will provide social contact and may do lots of small things that will help you continue living in your home. Our church recently started picking up online grocery orders (grocery pickup is a recently added service in our rural area) and delivering them to seniors in our community.
Consider looking for a senior apartment now as it can take several years for an apartment to become available. Once you are in the apartment, you can sell your manufactured home to fund a savings account that can be used to pay for personal or housekeeping help as needed. Just a little help can keep you in your apartment for a long time. When your savings are exhausted, you will most likely qualify for HUD section 8 where you pay 30% of your income for your housing (usually including utilities).
Medicare will pay for some home health care following a hospitalization or if you have a continuing medical condition that requires nursing support. Medicare pays for a CNA to check blood sugar, bathe and dress wounds/skin care for a diabetic aunt twice a week.
You need a living will or advanced directive - filed with your PCP and a copy easy for EMTs to find in your home. You also need to start looking for someone trustworthy to grant financial and medical POAs should you become mentally impaired. You may want to name co-POAs to reduce the opportunities for abuse of these powers.
Make an effort to remain as social as possible. If you cannot be out and about much anymore, use the time you are out and about to make contacts and follow-up with short phone calls later. The simple fact is that the more people you have contact with, the better quality of life you will have.
How wonderful of you to take so much time and trouble to help. You have given me some marvelous ideas to follow up on and I am very grateful. Thank you so much.
Sally
I am very lucky, apparently, that I am under the care of DADs which is the Department of Aging and Disability. They are responsible for sending out providers to do housework, shopping, laundry and cooking but, oh, my, what chaos. I have tried so many agencies I have lost count and have had a long string of women who arrive or not, (no phone call), late or early (never on time), wrong days even when I am out, then if they do arrive it hardly seems worth the effort. The last one was here for 2 hours and made the bed, washed the dishes, put the luandry from the washer into the dryer (said there wasn't time to fold it) and emptied the trash. After that she sat down and was about to stay put for the next half hour until I got her to mop the kitchen floor. She was so disgruntled about that I never saw her again. I begin to wonder if I am actually "too nice" as people do seem to take advantage of me. But then again that is in my nature and I can't imagine being a tyrant, and don't think that would get me anywhere either. Unfortunately, this is the sob story of agencies around here but, of course, my income doesn't stretch to private housekeepers.
Sorry for the moan. At least I have got that off my chest. I am coming to the conclusion that I am very lucky to get any help at all so I had best say nothing.
Thanks for replying to my post.
I should just like to clarify my position as I don't seem to have made myself clear. I am not so worried about getting care at home if I am marginally sick as there is various unskilled help available in my area for housekeeping, shopping etc. but the thing that really worries me, as I said above, is if I am really ill and totally unable to take care of myself in my own home.
I have high blood pressure and a family history of stroke for example, so this is something that weighs heavily upon me. If I should be so unlucky as to follow in my father and brother's footsteps, as far as I know I shall be left high and dry because of the Medicaid situation. They have a very low bar for eligibility, about $1100 a month, if I remember.
I am about to receive meals on wheels this coming Monday as it happens. This is a great boost in many ways but I have kidney disease so am not allowed this and that. But never mind, I am really grateful for this service, so shall just pick out the things I am allowed to eat.
Thanks again to everybody for their input. It is great to think there are people out there who take enough time out of their busy day to help others. I shall print this whole post out now and shall certainly follow up on all your suggestions.