Ask Mike - Moving my dad out of a nursing home
Dear Mike,
My Dad is in a nursing home near me, since my Mom did not want to take care of him. She has not seen him since he had his stroke (7 years ago) and I am the only person in the family who has taken care of him. Her and I have not spoken for 7 years, and I want nothing to do with her.
We have decided to have him move in with us now. He is currently on Medi-cal and Medicare and fully covered in the nursing home, and we have to deal with my Mom once a year when she files the financial paperwork and she keeps the social security check of his to help pay the mortgage on the house they own.
They both want a divorce but are too poor to do anything.
Anyway I have Power of Attorney , and need to move his case to my county, since she lives in a different county, but the social worker said she cannot do that while he is still in the nursing home. This is a problem since I have to set up IHSS and check on his benefits and all kinds of things before I move him in, I want to make sure we can afford it and he has enough benefits to make it. He will finally get his SS back again which is all he has now in the world.
Is there anything I can do to get this case transferred before he leaves the nursing home?
Yours,
Taking Care of Dad
Dear Taking Care of Dad
Thanks for writing to me about your Dad. He has been in a nursing home for several years. Now, you want him to move in with you. You would like to get his case moved from the county he currently is in to the one he will be residing in when he moves in with you. You want to get his IHSS set up and check on other benefits before he moves from the nursing home to your home. His current case worker says she cannot move his case as long as he is in the nursing home. You want to know if there is anything you can do.
Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the entire minutia of MediCal and the various California rules and regs; not to mention the impact of having Counties in California play such an important role in these services. I can share some ideas.
I have had some experience with situations similar to what you describe. What I discovered was the case couldn't be transferred as long as the nursing home needed to be paid. I know in California counties provide significant funding and program oversight. The problem could be that a single case can exist in only one county at a time and that one county will not pay for another county's MediCal costs. This being said, I simply do not understand why you cannot get information about benefits and even get his IHSS assessments ready for when he does move. Maybe you should consider appealing your caseworker's decision. The PAS Center website can be of assistance with finding contact information of agencies that can assist you.
On the "State Information" page go to Agencies Related to PAS. Next, click on "California" on the map of the USA. Next, click on, or scroll down to, "Medicaid Agency" and click on, or scroll down to, "Protection and Advocacy Agency". Use the contact information or the website address provided by "Medicaid Agency" to explain your problems and ask for assistance. Don’t forget to ask about "Money Follows the Person". You can do the same for "Protection and Advocacy Agency". Explain your situation and ask for assistance. This agency will be aware of the fact that it may be a violation of your Dad's civil rights to have to stay in a nursing home when he wants to return to the community.
When you do write your appeal, make sure and ask about the "Money Follows the Person" program. It is a Medicaid funded program specifically for individuals that want to relocate from a nursing facility or institution back to their own homes and communities. This program may have benefits and provide assistance that you and your Dad could use.
It is never easy to deal with barriers caused by entrenched bureaucratic rules. Be a persistent, squeaky wheel if you need be! I hope you and your Dad create many more great memories together.
Regards,
Mike Oxford.