Depression...

I often get the question, wouldn’t my loved one be more depressed living in a skilled nursing facility?  In the community often times individuals become isolated and that attributes to their depression.  FYI 20% of elderly living in community have depression.  Depression is often mistaken for normal aging, but that is incorrect.  Some symptoms include: complaints of aches and pains, feeling of sadness or loneliness, interference with ordinary daily activities, weight loss, and lastly confusion and memory loss.  Skilled Nursing Facilities and even assisted livings are designed to give individuals social interaction which we all crave/need for our well-being. Interaction with others occurs during meals, activities, with roommates, and even in the beauty shop.  Living within a structured environment with set meals and activities, gives someone a reason to get up in the morning! 

When is the right time for skilled nursing???

Q: What are signs that my loved one needs skilled nursing services?

A: Here is a list of the top needs potentially requiring skilled nursing facilities.  We use the phrase MIAMI DAWN.   

M: Memory Loss

I: Incontinence

A: ADLs (Activities of Daily Living)

M: Medication Administration

I: rehabIlitation

D: Depression/Isolation

A: Ambulation/Falls

W: Wound Care

N: Nutrition

Your loved one may have one of these needs or all.  Each facility is designed to coordinate their care based on their individualized needs.  The most prominent problems seen in the skilled nursing setting are related to memory loss, falls, medication administration, rehabilitation, and depression.  

Also, when in doubt, speak with professionals: doctors, care givers, home health, etc.  This is a difficult situation and a decision should not be entered lightly.  

-Brooke

Medicaid...How do I qualify for Long Term Care Medicaid

Being in long term care myself, I am blessed with tons of resources to help explain the difficult world of Medicaid. Today my facility Conroe Health Care Center hosted a community event with a presentation by Elder Law Attorney John Dantche.  The presentation was over the Ins and Outs of Medicaid and protecting your assets; this is strictly in reference to long term care.  Here is some great information he gave us that I wanted to share with you!

Medicaid Eligibility for the Nursing Facility (aka long term care or skilled nursing facility)

Maximum Income:
Individual- $2,094
Couple- $4,188

What constitutes income:
Basically this is anything you receive benefits on or payments such as: social security, pensions, annuities, wages, dividends, and retirement benefits.

Maximum Amount of resources:
Individual- $2,000
Couple- $3,000

What constitutes a resource:
Anything that can be exchanged for cash value such as: bank accounts, property, life insurance, stocks and bonds, etc.

What can be excluded for eligibility:
Homestead
Life insurance with face value of $1500 or less per person
One vehicle
Burial spaces for the individual, spouse, and close relatives

Protected resources amount for a spouse in the community
$22, 728 Minimum- $113,640 Maximum (does not include resources under the excluded list)

Some other information to know is that they must be a resident of Texas, be in a medicaid contracted long term care facility for a minimum of 30 consecutive days AND meet Medical necessity which is determined through the assessment process. 

There are so many individual situations, so if you have any questions please feel free to ask.  If I do not know the answer I will find out for you!  I hope this information clarifies about what SOME of the qualifications are for Medicaid application and approval.

Conroe Health Care Center