Decent Medicaid-bed nursing homes in Houston? (River Oaks, Columbus: apartment, credit card, lawyer)

[catfancier]

Hello--

I think we may be at the point where my mother needs 24/7 care...I'd prefer that to be in her own apartment but I don't see the $$ to do that. Medicare won't pay for that type of care. She currently is getting 24 hours a week of "provider" services from a state/Medicaid program, but I don't think they will offer 24/7 assistance. A Medicaid bed in a nursing home is our likely option.

I have done some research before into "Medicaid-pending" nursing homes...(at St. Dominic's Village, for example) they have you pay all costs for up to three months as your Medicaid nursing home application is processed...then you get reimbursed for that upfront money when your app is approved. We simply cannot do private-pay, unfortunately. In my next life I will make a lot of money or win the lottery....

If anyone can make recommendations on a Houston (Harris Cty or Fort Bedn Cty) home that takes Medicaid funding, I'd truly appreciate it. I also think it's just as important to know where NOT to go...I got a little inside info from a paramedic recently, for example, on one facility they would never choose.

If you'd prefer to send a direct message please do ... if there is a social worker or elder-care specialist who has any advice on this process I'd love that too. Many thanks.

[ShelbyGirl1]

The only advice I can give you...and we recently went thru this with my MIL, but in Fla. If you tell them you are coming in on Medicaid...you are less likely to find a bed. Go in under full private care...and they will accept her immeadiately. It is all about the money! You can have your app in for the Medicaid...Just don't tell them that. It took about 5 months to process the application and that is with a lawyer handling it. You can do the app. yourself, but be ready for numerous headaches and them turning you down for every little thing. I wish you luck...it is not fun!

[Mom2Feebs]

Hi catfancier--

My mother and I went through this a few years ago with my Grandma. I have to say, we just HATED all of the Houston places associated with Medicaid. They were old and awful. We ended up going about an hour west of Houston, to Columbus, TX and a place called River Oaks. We LOVED IT. It is very nice, pretty interiors, and the people are terrific. She was there until she died--quite happy, too, I might add.

Good luck!

[catfancier]

Thank you, ladies.

Shelby, when you started the private-pay and then got the Medicaid, did you still get reimbursed for the initial outlay? It simply is not an option for me to put out the $$ and not get it back. And I can't do it for FIVE months either...I thought three was bad enough!!

Mom2, was the nice place also a Medicaid-bed situation? Did you go thru the process I described? I'm happy that it worked out for your family....this is such a difficult issue. The other ones I've heard good things about simply won't do a Medicaid-pending scenario.

Any tips on the "no liquid assets over $2000" requirement?? That includes all savings and checking...and the thing that confuses me is that a checking account is of course a snapshot -- depending on when checks are paid the balance can vary widely. My mother has the princely savings account of about $1500...but when the SS check and a very tiny pension get deposited in checking early in the month, it would put her "over" the limit. There simply are no other assets to protect or worry about, so I don't know that an elder-law attorney would even deign to speak with us or that it would make sense to pay for one. I contacted one a year or so ago and would have had to pay $350 upfront on credit card to get said person on the phone ....

[ShelbyGirl1]

We started her on Private Pay...I believe we paid 2 months rent...as soon as we started the app on the Medicaid we paid nothing! The nursing home was not thrilled about it, but our lawyers instructed us not to pay(knowing we would not be re-imbursed). Once the app was approved, it was made retro-active back the 5 months. Word of advice...keep records of everything! She is allowed to own 1 house, 1 car (always with the assumption she can come back to her own home) and she must have less than $2000. They come up for approval every year...the reason for the records!
If they see her accts went over the $2000, it would immeadiately knock her out.

[Mom2Feebs]

catfancier, I cannot honestly tell you if we had to pay up front, but I sincerely doubt we did.

[Winebrat]

Hubby and I have gone through this in NJ and PA. It is well worth it to contact the department of aging http://www.dads.state.tx.us/ and check out LTC QRS Home - English (http://facilityquality.dhs.state.tx.us/ltcqrs_public/nq1/jsp2/qrsHome1en.jsp?MODE=P&LANGCD=en - broken link)
and Aging Texas Well (DADS)

Find a person you can "hook up with". Be thorough in documentation about who you talk to and when and what info is given. Be nice, ask questions and help them out, too. Once you find someone in the department who is not a paperpusher, stick with them like glue! They will be your best resource for the scuttlebutt in the homes.

[catfancier]

Moving this up to the top of the forum again...

anyone else who can weigh in? We did see a very nice home today but of course the issue is going to be an available bed...my mother may get pushed out of the hospital tomorrow and although this would for "rehab" and not necessarily for the long-term we were hoping they could be one and the same.

I also very much appreciate the "don't go THERE" experiences...probably best by Direct Message. Many thanks again for your help....

[karuna95]

You may want to call the Area Agency on Aging, as well as Sheltering Arms (elderly service non-profit org). Both can give you very helpful information/options... Hang in there!

[brotherwhatley]

CAtfancier,

I am going through the same thing right now. trying to figure out what exactly how to handle things. My dad came to visit for the 4th of July from another state and had a acute stroke an now he needs constant supervision, at least for the immediate. I have him in a nursing home for rehab for medicare for up to 20 days but on the 21st to 100 days it is a $133 daily copay. People have told me u can not even apply for medicaid until he has been in a nursing home for 30 days and it take up to 90 days to get approved, etc, etc. Anyway i don't know if he will be ok to come at home with just some home care. No one seems to want to give out too uch information. hey let me knwo what u find out and I can let you know what I find out.