Reply to Elder Care (Alzheimer) How long is enough?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]She has some money put away for her care, but not enough to last more than four years. I worry she might end up in a Medicare run facility (nursing home) if she lives that long. [/quote]

You’re thinking Medicaid, which doesn’t actually run nursing homes; it pays for them when people cannot afford to. Medicare nursing home benefits are limited and don’t include custodial care. There are self-pay facilities that also have Medicare (typically transition from hospital) and Medicaid patients.

I’d suggest you scout out the local facilities as PP’s suggested. I’d also suggest you consult an attorney affiliated with the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys about what find of facility she might qualify for and whether there are ways to stretch her assets in compliance with the various program rules and regulations.

PP who said there is no culture where it is not OK to put someone in a facility may be wrong. I know of one culture where the aged grandpa stayed home until death despite dementia, and I’m not even sure they have nursing facilities.

When to move someone is a very individualized, personal choice. Some kinds of “professional” care may be more experienced or competent but it is rare to find a caregiver as loving as a family member. But even that depends on the caregiver. It sounds like you are getting burned out. Taking care of disabled people is extremely hard work. Sometimes everyone’s better off when the loved one is in a facility with the family to supervise and supplement.

One more point:  whatever your person’s mental status you can expect it to deteriorate if you move them out of familiar surroundings. Sometimes people are bad enough off that it doesn’t matter. Sometimes they’re not.

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