Wendy already takes care of her mother in law at home. Mrs. N. (remember her?) lives at our assisted living. If Wendy could bring her mother home with her she would, but her health care is something she cannot take care of. She also works full-time. Mrs. N, however, makes $100 per month over the limit for Medicaid. Wow. That's just too much money, isn't it? She also, according to the nurse from the Department of Family Services, does not need nursing care. She functions too highly.
Wendy did everything right. She planned ahead. She knew exactly when her mom would run out of money and knew where to go to get her mom signed up for a Medicaid bed in a nursing home. She never factored in being disqualified - forever.
What was Plan B? There wasn't one. Wendy sat down in our office and sobbed. It was the only time I saw her just completely resigned and broken down. Who wouldn't be? I thought about her all weekend. How heart wrenching it must be to not know how you were going to take care of your mother - your mother.
Sometimes I go home and pray because there are elderly people who need taking care of, and I don't know how it's going to get done.
There is a happy ending for Wendy's mom - temporarily. She will go to a subsidized assisted living in Fairfax county that is workable for them pulling together family funds.
Thank God there is a solution - for now.