We really need to protect Medicaid

[electricray]

No specific call-to-action just a story from someone close to me about someone dear to my family. As I get older these programs that were so hollow and faceless to me growing up are starting to become more and more real by the day. Perhaps I should have feared that they were in jeapordy much much sooner, but I guess like a lot of people the issue didn't become real to me until it did. Anyway This is an edited version (to eliminate personal information) of a letter from a close relative about her spouse of 50 years. I should mention that Bill suffers from Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Those who know the combo know that Parkinsons meds aggrevate the alzheimers and vice versa. Getting old is truly a bitch. Anyway here goes:

The owner of the home is a Certified Nursing Assistant but she is a lady and the only one to take care of the residents (right now there are only 4). But she can't manage Bill by herself. Bill is 6'3" tall (I'll add that he is probably closer to 300 lbs than 200) and stiff as a board. She is only about 5'2" tall. The Hospice aide is a man and strong as a horse. He has to crank up Bill's bed till he is in a sitting position, then take hold of his feet and swing them around to the side of the bed. Then he puts a "gait belt" around Bill's chest, puts Bill's hands on his (the aide's) shoulders, pulls Bill to a standing position using the belt, pivots Bill a quarter turn, and sits him in the wheel chair. Then he takes the belt off and puts it on again to strap him to the chair. Bill is not able to stand on his own, keep his balance, or help with the turn. Bill is not able to pick his feet up so Jason pulls the wheel chair backwards and lets Bill's feet drag in order to move him into the living room. If Jason can come back later, Bill will stay up for about two or three hours. Otherwise, he is up only for as long as Jason can stay there at the home. Jason usually does his paperwork for his job there so Bill can have time sitting up. Jason is so good with Bill. He bathes him, cuts his hair, cleans out his ears, trims his eyebrows, shaves him, brushes his teeth, cleans his nails, even trims his nose hairs. It costs us $1175.34 a month for Bill to stay there and the state and Medicaid pay the balance and pay for his HMO. Hospice pays for the aide, his equipment, supplies, and all of his medicine except Plavix, which is a blood thinner. If we had more money we would not be eligible for help from the state and Medicaid and I am thankful that we are getting this help.

Anyone with action related info RE: Medicaid would be much appreciated

[DesertFlower]

1. i agree. getting old is a bitch.

my mom is 85, has dementia but is still able to live on her own as long as we bring her groceries. i hope it can stay that way. her monthly income is $1055 -- no where near enough to cover assisted living or a nursing home. she has about $35,000 in savings which i'm sure would have to be used before she would be eligible for Medicaid.

[bonito]

2. I don't get it she takes care of bill

and 3 others as well?

[electricray]

3. Yep 4 to one ratio.

My grandma works as a nurse in nursing homes and from what she says 4 to one would be a dream.

[eilen]

4. In nursing homes the ratio is usually 8 or 10 to one depending on the shift.

If you get 6, it is a light day but they will usually float someone during the day so it won't stay that way. Standard staffing: Forty bed unit, four aides, a charge nurse who passes the meds for practically the entire shift--has to stop to help feed during meals and also does treatments. These people are usually underpaid and have a short shelf life due to burn out and injury. Even on Alzheimer's units-- the only difference on the Alzheimers units is that the exits are locked with code locks.

[KharmaTrain]

5. There's An Extensive Care Crisis

In their last years I had to take care of my parents...keeping them in their home and as comfortable as possible. Finding quality homecare was difficult...it's not an easy job and requires both physical and emotional strength. I've also spent a lot of time in nursing homes and see the pressures in many of those places. We have a large and growing aging population that will need more and more care as the years go by. There's been a shortage of real good home and vocational healthcare workers as the hours are long and the pay is poor...many people are subsiding on their SSI, what remains of their savings and whatever Medicare will or won't cover. Insurance companies look down on home care...they'd rather lock people into nursing homes and cut their "losses". Either way, the situation will get worse as more people start hitting 75 plus.

Honestly, while I admire this lady's heart and determination, she's in a situation way over her head and in many ways could be endangering the others in her home. Thankfully she's found one person who can help, but one needs more than that...especially if she's trying to operate a hospice. All she needs is a good fall or something other else to happen and these people would be in a very dangerous situation.

Instead of the government, sounds like this person should talk to some of the local service agencies...United Way and the like...that can provide her with the emotional, physical and possibly financial support. Hopefully she's also fully insured in what she's doing...but that's another topic.

Good luck and cheers...