My nana moved in with me 2 months ago from Montana, she had a stroke so I moved her home. It's too much for me to do because I was recently diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis. I'm a single mom of 3 kids and I work full time. I have no family to take on her care and I have called every care facility in my area and in the surrounding areas up to 3 hours away and no one has any long term availability. What can I do? It's getting very painful to care for her. She needs 24 hour care. I do not have a signed anything stating I'm her responsible person. Also she is okay with going into a facility. I've talked to her about it. She was in a facility in Montana before I moved her in with me to California. I've thought about her going back there but I can't take her back and have no one to take her back to Montana. I dont want her that far from me as well.
So, are you an alternate? Or are you joint on the PoA with your mom? Does the PoA state that both of you need to approve an action (like sign checks) or only 1?
Please know that if this is all too overwhelming (as you may choose to become your mom's caregiver as well) it might unfold that your only realistic option is for you and your mom to resign as PoAs and allow the county to take guardianship of your nana. They will make sure she is placed and cared for. You won't have any say on where they place her and you won't be privy to any of her financial/medical info but at least you won't need to be juggling care for 2 people and your children. I'm not saying this lightly, as I can barely imagine being in your situation with small children of your own BUT your immediate family (your children) are your primary responsibility. Anything that erodes your ability to parent them in an optimum way (and impact your mental and physical health) needs to be outsourced. As a single parent, your kids come first. I wish you all the best!
At her current financial status you will need to help her apply for Medicaid. If she has no assets and just SS, it won't be difficult. I think the "look back" period in CA is 2.5 yrs. so hopefully she has any info you will need. Once you send in the form it can take a minimum of 3 months for her to get qualification. Open any mail from their office since it is time sensitive and they may be requesting more info. The "proofs" that are requested (like a copy of her most recent bank statement) must be as current as possible. Send in the completed form asap or it will become "stale" and they will kick it back for current info. The form can be downloaded from the Department of Health and Human Services website. Contact them for guidance.
If nana incurs medical bills while she is waiting for approval, Medicaid will pay some or all of it depending on when she gets approved (I think there's a 3-mo window in my county in MN). Keep all bills and receipts.
In the meantime you can have social services come in and do an assessment for in-home services and resources. You can also contact your local area's Council on Aging for info and resources as well. Nana being a Medicaid recipient unfortunately will mean she is at the bottom of waiting lists for facilities, since the existing residents get first dibs. Do put her name on as many lists as possible. I don'w know how long it may take in CA...
If you're near a church you can contact it to see if they have a care ministry or can provide you a break or any kind of help -- you don't need to be an attender -- just tell them your predicament. I wish you all sorts of luck and mercy as you try to help your Nana!
I suggest you call Office of Aging and see what resources are for Gma. I think ur problem will be is she has not lived in Montana long enough for Medicaid. It doesn't go over State lines.
In other countries, from the time you are born to the time you die, you are covered by the same system seemlessly. They do that with a higher standard of care at at least half the cost we pay for healthcare. I don't get why some people are so against paying less to get more.