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Your Advocacy Connection

By Tiffany Whittaker
GolderCare Solutions

We Solve Long Term Care Problems

Life Can Change in an Instant

Clarence and Clara Brown’s lives turned upside down and inside out – in a matter of minutes. Clarence had a
massive stroke which left him unable to speak and partially paralyzed. His level of care required that he be placed in a nursing home. Assisted Living just couldn’t provide the level of care Clarence now required. This was unfortunate for Clarence. As a War-Time Veteran, he qualified for Pension Benefits that could have really helped slow the “bleed” of care costs at Assisted Living level of care. That benefit was not going to be enough help to pay for a nursing home.
Clara is now faced with many difficult and confusing decisions.

•  What nursing home?

•  Does that nursing home accept Medicaid?

•  If so, would we be better off under Illinois or Iowa Medicaid rules?

•  Where/How do we begin to file for Medicaid?

•  There is no local Medicaid office! Where do I go for help?

•  We made a few gifts to our children in the past 5 years and Medicaid would impose a penalty period should we apply.

Does that mean we’re out of luck?

•  Do we have to wait 5 years to file for Medicaid?

•  Will the State take my house?

•  What will be left for ME to live on?

NO! Not at all!

Clarence will be discharged from the hospital in a day or two. Facilities were turning them down left and right and they didn’t understand why. The Browns have very little money and a low income. They either didn’t meet income criteria of the facility or the level of care that Clarence needed was beyond what the facility was capable of providing. The Browns were screaming HELP! And this is just what we did, we helped.

First, we evaluated Clarence’s care needs and facilitated placement for him in a facility that accepted Medicaid.  It was important that we found a facility that could provide the care necessary to maintain Clarence’s health and quality of life. Quality of life is always the Number One priority.

Once care placement was established, we needed to find help in paying for that care. We evaluated everything the Brown’s had done over the previous 5 years. This review included what assets they currently held as well as their income. A complete review includes the pros and cons of placement in Illinois verses Iowa for that family’s unique
situation.  All benefit options including Medicaid, Veteran’s benefits, and any existing Long-Term-Care Insurance are considered.  A plan was then created. It was important to ensure the Browns were never left without a payer source for Clarence’s care.

Not only did we need to plan to have Clarence Medicaid eligible, we needed to preserve assets for Clara at the same time.  It was important to include a plan for Clara because she was still looking forward to a long life and was currently living in her own home in the community with all the bills of home ownership. This planning will ensure that Clara is not impoverished or “thrown under the bus” by the system in the face of Clarence’s need for long term care.

When a crisis presents itself, who will you call to help you navigate the complex world that is Long Term Care and Medicaid? Don’t just “spend down.” There may be other options. Don’t risk leaving yourself without a payer source.  We can help.  It’s what we do.

Tiffany Whittaker is a Benefits Advocate for GolderCare Solutions. She uses her diverse knowledge and experience in benefits planning to advocate for seniors and those who are disabled.  GolderCare Solutions provides long term care solutions for both Iowa and Illinois clients.  You can reach Tiffany at GolderCare Solutions Unlimited, LLC (309) 764-2273