My grandmother disabled with no where safe to go

[chinnie15]

Thank you, quincy. No one knows what it's been like for me, so it is incredibly rude to judge me. YES, this is a legal forum, so I expected some professional advice. Not rude jabs such as "it's time to join the grown up world" and "time to let go of your free ride". Saying such things are simply to be nasty and judgmental, and there is no excuse for it. We were told back in march by the assisted living facility that my grandmother would be FINE. It isn't until just now that they are bringing up the issues with the waiver. Yes, my mom should have looked more into it, but she is disabled. This should have been brought to her attention previously. This is not the first time we've been mislead during this process. My mom worked her butt off to get my grandmother into that assisted living facility, so to even imply that we don't care about her is disgusting. Life has NOT been easy.

Carefully discuss this situation with a Medicaid caseworker. If your mother was not forced to move out of her parent's home due to her disability, as you said, the situation now is the same as it was when your grandfather was alive. The other parent, her mother, now owns the house, but still, it seems to me that the other parent's ownership should not change that she is a disabled child living in a parent's house with a lien on it already. Medicaid generally doesn't take that. Is your mother receiving SSI?

You and your sister being full time students and someone in the family working does not preclude their having to take care of grandmother at least for a time. But it sounds as though she should very quickly qualify for assistance herself unless there are other assets that you haven't mentioned aside from the house.

Yes, she is receiving SSI. And who would be applying for assistance? My grandmother herself?

Edit: Forgot to mention that no, she doesn't have any other assets.

 

[chinnie15]

Here is the problem -- grandpa died a few months ago. The house is in grandma's name. At the time of grandpa's death, options should have been investigated and backup plans put in place. You think my answer my was mean and coldhearted? You had warning about this. When grandpa died, SIX MONTHS AGO, that should have been warning. Heck, the fact that grandpa and grandma owned the house should have given notice that some more planning was going to be necessary -- such as long term planning by meeting with an attorney. No one had the foresight. The lack of preparation on your part does not an emergency make on the parts of others. I gave you the proper advice. And it was not delivered meanly. It was straightforward.

Time to grow up and start looking into alternatives that should have been sought out prior to now.

It was not your response I had a problem with. I was upset and forgot to thank you in my response. I appreciate your response, except for your last bit here about me having to 'grow up'. You don't know me. You don't know my situation. Don't judge me.

 

[Zigner]

The title of this thread expresses concern for grandma having no place to go.
The content of this thread expresses concern for the able-bodied full-time students having no place to go.

 

[chinnie15]

The title of this thread expresses concern for grandma having no place to go.
The content of this thread expresses concern for the able-bodied full-time students having no place to go.

I mentioned only once that I'm a full time student, which was mentioned to show that I am not home to watch her. Never has my main concern in this thread been where I am going to go. It's what is going to happen to my entire family, my grandmother included.

IF there's an option for my grandmother to stay safe and cared for, my disabled mother to stay in this house in a fair neighborhood, instead of being dumped in some government housing somewhere in a terrible neighborhood, and my brother or sister ending up in a homeless shelter, I AM going to seek options because that's the HUMAN thing to do. So go ahead and keep judging me. I'm trying to keep EVERYONE safe.

 

[Zigner]

I mentioned only once that I'm a full time student, which was mentioned to show that I am not home to watch her. Never has my main concern in this thread been where I am going to go. It's what is going to happen to my entire family, my grandmother included.

Ok, gotcha.

If we have to give up the house, there might not be anywhere for us to go.

What "we"? It's GRANDMA'S house - you are merely tenants. Non-paying tenants at that.

My sister and I are full time students and not working at the moment.

That may need to change.

 

[chinnie15]

Ok, gotcha.


What "we"? It's GRANDMA'S house - you are merely tenants. Non-paying tenants at that.



That may need to change.

It can't just change. I received financial aid. I have to finish or I'll be in trouble with the government... I am currently looking for a job and am going to start going to school part time. This I already decided months ago.

And it was my GRANDFATHER'S house, which only went to my grandmother because he passed. And who exactly do you think is keeping the house going? We are. You can't live in a house without paying property taxes. Who do you think go that money together? Non paying tenants? Wow.

 

[commentator]

Thank you, quincy. No one knows what it's been like for me, so it is incredibly rude to judge me. YES, this is a legal forum, so I expected some professional advice. Not rude jabs such as "it's time to join the grown up world" and "time to let go of your free ride". Saying such things are simply to be nasty and judgmental, and there is no excuse for it. We were told back in march by the assisted living facility that my grandmother would be FINE. It isn't until just now that they are bringing up the issues with the waiver. Yes, my mom should have looked more into it, but she is disabled. This should have been brought to her attention previously. This is not the first time we've been mislead during this process. My mom worked her butt off to get my grandmother into that assisted living facility, so to even imply that we don't care about her is disgusting. Life has NOT been easy.



Yes, she is receiving SSI. And who would be applying for assistance? My grandmother herself?

Edit: Forgot to mention that no, she doesn't have any other assets.

Someone, possibly your mother, needs to speak at once to a Department of Human Services, Department of Social services person. Does your mother have a caseworker she could call and speak with? It doesn't sound as though your grandmother has qualified for Medicaid in the past, because she has been in assisted living. It may be that her condition has declined to the point that she needs a nursing home, a skilled nursing facility. You may need to get her reevaluated by her physician. Your mother may have to get out and scrabble up another placement for your grandmother.

It may also be that if she does not need more skilled care than an assisted living facility, and you cannot find one immediately, your family will have to keep her, or pay someone to help you keep her at home, or come up with the money for her to be in this same or another assisted living facility. But quickly, very quickly, your mother needs to discuss this situation with the department of Aging services too. Just because the place she is staying doesn't want to keep her, and says she will no longer qualify for the waiver she had while your grandfather was alive, that does not mean no assisted living place would accept her. Sometimes these places try to get rid of their "waivered" clients in order to admit full pay more profitable clients. Aging services agencies specialize in helping people who are struggling with eldercare issues such as the one you describe.

It also sounds like you all are panicking a little bit, you need to calm down and step back and ask for some help and information. If worst comes to worst, and they actually throw grandmother out on the street, you'll step up and care for her, no matter how difficult it is, until something can be worked out.

 

[stealth2]

I gotta ask - what IS your mother's disability. Because she "could fight like hell" before, but now can't figure out that there is going to be an issue with Grandma's assets..... Just makes no sense.

 

[commentator]

But that's just it, there isn't, or shouldn't be a problem with grandmother's assets. It sounds as though the assisted living facility, which formerly told them things would be fine with the waiver in place, is now suddenly saying they don't want the grandmother there, and are not going to accept the waiver any more. This is not to say absolutely that they need to move out and sell the house immediately and pony up cash to keep grandmother in that same place. The facility might not even take their cash, might want grandmother out no matter who's paying the bill.

As I said before, no Medicaid accepting facility would be able to throw Grandmother out without seeing if she qualifies for Medicaid. And Medicaid eligibility does not demand that a client sell a house from under a disabled child living there before qualifying for assistance. There's a possibility that grandmother's condition has gotten worse to the point that the assisted living facility simply doesn't want to care for her anymore. That certainly happens. They are all in the business of making a profit. This family is going to have to find another placement for grandmother, not sell her house and move into a homeless shelter.

 

[Ohiogal]

But that's just it, there isn't, or shouldn't be a problem with grandmother's assets. It sounds as though the assisted living facility, which formerly told them things would be fine with the waiver in place, is now suddenly saying they don't want the grandmother there, and are not going to accept the waiver any more. This is not to say absolutely that they need to move out and sell the house immediately and pony up cash to keep grandmother in that same place. The facility might not even take their cash, might want grandmother out no matter who's paying the bill.

As I said before, no Medicaid accepting facility would be able to throw Grandmother out without seeing if she qualifies for Medicaid. And Medicaid eligibility does not demand that a client sell a house from under a disabled child living there before qualifying for assistance. There's a possibility that grandmother's condition has gotten worse to the point that the assisted living facility simply doesn't want to care for her anymore. That certainly happens. They are all in the business of making a profit. This family is going to have to find another placement for grandmother, not sell her house and move into a homeless shelter.

What it sounds like based on OP's postings is GRANDPA owned the house and got a waiver so he wouldn't have to pay for his SPOUSE'S medical care. The waiver covered GRANDPA so he could stay in the home. When he died, grandma inherited the house. Now it is HER asset and Medicaid wants paid while the family wants to continue as though grandpa is still alive with a waiver. But grandma is NOW the only owner and she is not living there. Therefore she does NOT need a waiver. Hence, that is the issue. That is why the tenants are going to have to move unless a court allows them to pay FAIR MARKET RENT for the place and the rent goes to pay grandma's care. That MIGHT be an option. And the grandma's child is NOT a child. She is an adult.

 

[LdiJ]

What it sounds like based on OP's postings is GRANDPA owned the house and got a waiver so he wouldn't have to pay for his SPOUSE'S medical care. The waiver covered GRANDPA so he could stay in the home. When he died, grandma inherited the house. Now it is HER asset and Medicaid wants paid while the family wants to continue as though grandpa is still alive with a waiver. But grandma is NOW the only owner and she is not living there. Therefore she does NOT need a waiver. Hence, that is the issue. That is why the tenants are going to have to move unless a court allows them to pay FAIR MARKET RENT for the place and the rent goes to pay grandma's care. That MIGHT be an option. And the grandma's child is NOT a child. She is an adult.

She is however, a disabled adult and I do know that sometimes a waiver can be given in that instance. It depends on the amount of disability income she is collecting and the extent of her disabilities. Even the value of the house can come into play.

If the adult is disabled the taxpayers are going to end up footing the bill no matter what. Either benefits will go to grandma or benefits will go to her adult child...or both if the value of the home is low and it doesn't cover much time for grandma.

 

[Ohiogal]

She is however, a disabled adult and I do know that sometimes a waiver can be given in that instance. It depends on the amount of disability income she is collecting and the extent of her disabilities. Even the value of the house can come into play.

If the adult is disabled the taxpayers are going to end up footing the bill no matter what. Either benefits will go to grandma or benefits will go to her adult child...or both if the value of the home is low and it doesn't cover much time for grandma.

Here is what I am finding regarding the waiver after googling Maryland Medicaid housing waiver:

http://www.peoples-law.org/node/395
http://www.ola.state.md.us/Reports/Performance/MedicaidWaiver.pdf
http://medicaidwaiver.org/state/maryland.html

If Op wants help, OP is going to have to do some of the work.

 

[commentator]

"The assisted living facility is now saying that since my grandfather passed, the house is now an asset to my grandmother and she can no longer get the waiver."

I find nowhere in the OP's posts that say that Grandma is currently on Medicaid, or that it is Medicaid that wants paid. It just says that they got a waiver through the commission on aging to pay for the assisted living for Grandma. They have grants like these in some places. Most assisted living facilities do not accept Medicaid patients or receive Medicaid payments. There's no need for rants about society's leeches who want to be on government programs. In reality, almost everyone who faces a long final illness and long term care ends up on Medicaid, and usually the home is the last asset that goes, and that if there is a disabled person living there, they probably would not insist that the house be sold before the person can receive Medicaid, either grandpa or grandma.If they place grandmother in a nursing home at this point, she will get all kinds of help from the facility to get on Medicaid, because they want paid.

The assisted living facility seems to be the entity that is saying Grandmother cannot stay there anymore, though they had originally told the family (in June) that she'd be fine there.

 

[chinnie15]

I gotta ask - what IS your mother's disability. Because she "could fight like hell" before, but now can't figure out that there is going to be an issue with Grandma's assets..... Just makes no sense.

She has been in and out of the hospital every few months since 2005. After drug complications around her first admission, she received severe nerve damage in her legs as well as heart trouble (her heart went into afib). She was in a wheel chair for a long period of time but now gets around with the use of crutches. She gets severely ill every 2-3 months because she has an immune disease (IGG deficiency). She is on countless medications and gets seriously ill every time she gets so much as a cold which usually turns into severe pneumonia.

I gave this information to my mother and she will be making phone calls tomorrow. Thank you so much for your help commentator. We will also arrange having her reevaluated by her physician to see if her medical status has changed.

 

[mmmagique]

What it sounds like based on OP's postings is GRANDPA owned the house and got a waiver so he wouldn't have to pay for his SPOUSE'S medical care. The waiver covered GRANDPA so he could stay in the home. When he died, grandma inherited the house. Now it is HER asset and Medicaid wants paid while the family wants to continue as though grandpa is still alive with a waiver. But grandma is NOW the only owner and she is not living there. Therefore she does NOT need a waiver. Hence, that is the issue. That is why the tenants are going to have to move unless a court allows them to pay FAIR MARKET RENT for the place and the rent goes to pay grandma's care. That MIGHT be an option. And the grandma's child is NOT a child. She is an adult.

Or they can bring grandma home and take care of her. But that may be switching classes around and maybe even taking less than they are currently.