I'm looking for an assisted living facility but I live in the middle of nowhere and we don't have that kind of money. My grandmother has been living with us and she makes life difficult for everyone including herself. She forgets everything and repeats things constantly which can be aggravating but I'm more concerned for her health and safety. She doesn't sleep at all. She takes quick naps maybe 5-20 minutes at a time throughout the day. I think she's afraid of dying in her sleep but she needs sleep. She's a hypochondriac, she thinks she has every illness and "psychedelic" phlegm. She is stubborn and refuses to leave my house or get help from any doctor, but I hear my name being called every 5 minutes because she needs something and can't stay on her feet for longer than 3 minutes. My mother is working double shifts in a full-time job so I'm looking for options myself. The major problem I'm running into is I don't know my nana's information to apply for any grants or her Medicaid information to apply to assisted living. If anyone has been through this, please help with how I can get her help.
If no one is her PoA, then maybe someone in your house needs to either take her to Urgent Care or the ER due to her not being able to stand for more than 3 minutes and also due to her delusions. These symptoms could be caused by other treatable ailments, like a UTI, dehydration, vitamin deficiency, thryoid problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, or other more serious disease.
If your Grandma is supposed to be on medication for an existing condition, make sure she is not over- or under-medicating herself. If she's having memory problems and/or confusion, she should not be in charge of dispensing to herself.
If she does go the the ER, this is where the adult in charge (like your mom, not you if you are not 18) can talk to the hospital social worker to see options about having her go directly from the hospital to a facility. The discharge team should should be told firmly that she is an "unsafe discharge" and there is no one at home to adequately or willing to care for her, and there is no legal authority to do so. Then, no one should pick her up and take her back home. Just keep repeating that she is an unsafe discharge. Even if the hospital promises to "help" once she goes back, do not believe it -- they just want her out of the hospital.
For elders who are no longer able to care for themselves and do not have a PoA, guardianship is the only answer to legally make decisions on their behalf. It can be expensive and time consuming, requiring going to court and proving your Grandma is incompetent to care for herself.
Or, the county pursues guardianship and then decides what facility she goes to, and then manages all her financial and personal affairs. If she qualifies for Medicaid, and she still owns a home, the state puts a lien on the home that will need to be satisfied when the home changes ownership.
In most states, Medicaid doesn't pay for AL -- but check for your state's rules.
Your Grandma may still be able to sign a DPoA for herself. Maybe make an appointment with a certified elder law attorney. The attorner will interview her privately in the office to determine if she comprehends what PoA means for her. If she does (and even if she forgets) she is still considered competent. Then, if she does legally complete a "Durable" PoA, the powers goes into effect right away (I believe even without a medical diagnosis of cognitive impairment). At that point the PoA can legally act to help her.
There is still the problem of paying for care. If she doesn't have the financial means, then the state acquiring guardianship may be the only answer.
p.s.: irrational "stubbornness" in the elderly is often an early symptom of dementia.
Do you work outside the home?
If grandma is so feisty and "independent ", you should find employment and leave her to her own devices.
If she falls, call 911 and have her taken to the ER, evaluated for placement and placed.
It seems to me that you are enabling her by staying at home with her.
If you have no money and then either does grandma, then an Assisted Living is out of the picture. Medicaid does not pay for AL. Your grandma seems to be passed an AL anyway. So it would be Longterm care with doctor claiming grandma has Dementia and/or needs 24/7 care. There is a 5 yr look back in most States so u will need 5 yrs of bank statements. She is living with you so she has no house. If all she has is Social Security and a pension, the application should be fairly easy as long ascshe is under the income cap. You will need to know if she has any insurance policies, IRAs, 401k, CDs, ect. If someone has POA, this is fairly easy to find out if all her financial stuff is in one place.