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My mom is in denial that she will ever need to go to a nursing home. Her caseworker calls and wants to talk to her she tells her caseworker that she wants her bathroom renovated. The house has one small bathroom with an old clawfoot tub, no shower. Medicaid approved her for a bathroom renovation, they want to take out her tub and install a walk-in shower.


Her homecare is pushing for it because it currently takes 2 people to safely get her in and out of her tub and they said they can't bill Medicaid for the 2nd person, she is only allowed one caregiver at a time. In fact, they require that I leave the house when they show up, her caseworker told me if I'm there, then the home care agency can't get paid.


My question is, with my mom's Alzheimer's/dementia can she authorize the work be done? She gets confused about what time it is and what day it is, she can't keep appointments straight, she gets he medication mixed up. This morning she would have taken a whole bottle of pills if I wouldn't have been there. She said she heard her doctor say to take the whole bottle! Yes, but only one in the morning and one in the evening until the bottle is empty. She tells people she was born in this house, which is kind of amazing since the house was built AFTER she was born. Then when I ask her what something in the kitchen was used for, she says "I don't know, it was here when I moved in".


I do have POA and my mom signed over the deed to me back in 2008 then retained the house in a life estate for herself for whatever that's worth. Also I would have to let the workers in as my mom couldn't get out of her chair by herself to open the door.

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Your mother is 96. You say on your profile that you are taking care of her full time in her home. How much longer can you do that before she needs a nursing home? What is she going to do while her bathroom is being renovated? How long is that work going to take?
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Medicaid has approved this work, it meets your mother's needs, you have power of attorney for her...

Sorry - what are you waiting for?
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JoAnn29 Feb 2021
I find that SWs don't look at the whole picture. They don't work hands on with a client so unless they have cared for someone they have no clue whats involved.
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I would call the caseworker and make her aware that Mom can no longer make informed decisions. Meaning she can't sign papers or be held responsible for her decisions. That you wonder if the remodel will be worth it for the reasons listed. Most elderly get cold when showered. I may talk to the aides to to get their imput. Maybe a lower tub would be better with bars on the walls. Has the caseworker been out to evaluate the bathroom. And, if Mom needs to go to a NH, and you sell the house, dies Medicaid get reimbursed for the remodel?
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You don't specify what the difficulty is in getting in and out of the tub but has anyone tried a transfer bench and a hand held shower?
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How often does Mom bathe? That may impact the decision. (My Mom has cut down to 2 a week, hardly worth a reno. She'd wash at the sink instead).

I'm also wondering when was the last time your Mother had an actual shower? I ask because so many elders (especially if any dementia) actually hate showers. They like sponge washes at a sink & even a bath (if safely able to get in & out) but hate showers as the water hits their skin like needles & hate being cold everywhere the water isn't.

It would be awful to get it done & she never use it...

This is Mother's house, right? How long do you plan to live there? Will that have an impact too?
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Yes. You should let your mom get her bath upgraded. Perhaps you could let the workers in. Do you live in your moms house? Whoever offered to upgrade the bath would know what authorization is necessary. I’m glad your mom is getting assistance.
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