Q. My father was discharged from the hospital into a nursing home, has been there only about 2 weeks under MediCARE, and now they are pressing us to bring him home. But, he’s not ready and still needs care. Is this right? A. No, it is not. Unfortunately, many nursing homes are concerned about whether… Read More »
Posts Categorized: Nursing Home Issues
Medi-Cal Myths Uncovered
Q. In talking with friends, I discovered a lot of misunderstanding about how the Medi-Cal program works if one needs help with the high cost of nursing home care. I wonder if you would clarify matters. A. Sure. I have also discovered much misunderstanding, even among care professionals. Here are the most common “myths” regarding the… Read More »
Special Planning for an Incapacitated Spouse
Q. My wife suffers from dementia and has been in a nursing home for some time. About a year ago, we put everything in my name so she could qualify for a Medi-Cal subsidy to help pay for her care. We currently have only simple wills which leave everything to the survivor of us, and… Read More »
Dealing With the Visitation Ban in Nursing Homes & Assisted Living Facilities Due to COVID
Q. My wife has been in nursing home for about 6 months, and I haven’t been allowed to see her since March due to COVID-19. The facility has been in “Lockdown” and won’t permit visitors. I really miss her. Is there any way to get around this? A. Yes, there may well be a way… Read More »
Signing Legal Documents in the Time of COVID
Q. We recently engaged you to assist my elderly mother to update and revise her estate planning documents, all while she was a patient in a skilled nursing facility under “lockdown” due to the COVID Pandemic. I appreciate that you were successful, but wonder how you were able to deal with the COVID issues that… Read More »
Big Budget Win for Seniors And Low Income Older Adults
Q. I heard that the proposed CA Budget cuts to the Medi-Cal program are now off the table. Is that true? A. Yes! Some background: Faced with a proposed $54 Billion Budget Deficit, last month Governor Newsom had proposed drastic cuts to Medi-Cal and other social programs that serve low income seniors and the disabled…. Read More »
Medicare Relaxes Requirements for Nursing Home Coverage
Q. I hear that Medicare has announced that, due to the Corona Virus Pandemic, it will now be more generous in covering nursing home stays by relaxing some of its long-standing coverage requirements. Do you know anything about this? A. Yes. A bit of background may be helpful. Medicare has traditionally imposed three conditions as… Read More »
Will Mom Lose Medicare Or Medi-Cal Coverage If She Leaves The Nursing Home To Visit Family?
Q. Mom has been receiving care in a nursing home. She is currently covered by Medicare, but soon will switch to Medi-Cal. She would really like to come to our home for a short visit during the holidays. However, I heard that she might lose her coverage if she does so. Is that true? A…. Read More »
Discrimination By Nursing Homes. Getting In Is Half the Battle
Q. If I seek entry into a nursing home for my mother, will it be tougher to find a bed if she goes in as a Medi-Cal beneficiary? A. Unfortunately, that is a distinct possibility. See the following article published by California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (“CANHR”), and re-printed here with permission: “Over the… Read More »
Will Medi-Cal Count Dad’s Assets Even Though They Cannot Be Accessed Due To His Dementia?
Q. Our father is 90 years old and is being cared for in a nursing home, which costs about $10,500 per month. We need to apply for a Medi-Cal subsidy to help with the cost, but Dad has an old insurance policy with accumulated cash value which puts him over the $2,000 Medi-Cal resource ceiling… Read More »