Does Medicare/Medicaid cover all/part of long term care when Alzheimer patient becomes incapacitated?

My mother has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimers. She does not yet need 24 hour nursing care but will eventually. My family is wondering what government resources are available to help pay for the long term care.

My mother had a series of strokes (after age 65). Medicare paid for no in-home care. They provided walkers and wheelchairs and doctor's appointments.

Nursing home care they provided 3 months and then they wanted her to pay from whatever assets she had (home, property, whatever) and the cost is huge.

When she was thought terminal Hospice provided excellent care (?3 months) and paid for some medications. They were wonderful and their services were free and renewable should she not have died during their care period but need their services again later.

If your mother has periods of lucidity get wills and living wills settled NOW as her condition can only get worse and she must be seen as having (some) competence when signing legal documents. Also get a power of attorney which ends upon her death, but is very useful in making life decisions that she cannot make (paying bills, selling a home, etc). Get your name or names added to her property and bank accounts.

If she has property, and it is transferred to you to avoid nursing home costs, the government will come after it if the transfer occurred less than two years before her needing to be placed in a nursing home.

If property is transferred to you before her death, you will be responsible for capital gains tax (the difference between her purchase price and current values). If your name is on the property or simply inherit it, there are no inheritance or capital gains taxes unless she has a huge estate (according to current laws).

Medicaid may well be different, and I have no experience with it.

Alzheimer's is a terrible disease which can go on for a long, long time. Try to sort this out with your family so that you are all on th same page. I was the only surviving relative so everything fell on my shoulders, but the upside was that I didn't have to deal with multiple family members' opinions.

Get legal advice and God bless.

It will probably end up being Medicaid. Medicare does not cover long term care. There is a 100 day limit on Part A.

I would start planning on it now. Some states get really nasty about recovering Medicaid costs.

-Dio

It really depends on what country you are in, but if you are in Australia, i suggest you go speak to your GP and get some advice from him, also i beleive Alzheimers Australia can help as well, there should be a toll free phone number within each capital city, and also a website, the best thing to do would be to google, Alzheimers in (which ever country your in) and see what that can bring up for you, these societies are a wealth of information, and can be a fantastic support network for when you need it.

Check with the state in which your mom resides. Medicare, the federal plan, pays only for 'skilled' care. This means if your mom falls down and fractures a hip, they will pay for a skilled nursing facility where she will receive physical and occupational therapy for a period up to 100 days. Medicare will also pay for an acute rehab stay for about 2 weeks. As far as meeting her needs if and when she becomes incapacitated, that is usually paid for out of pocket because it is viewed as 'custodial' care. If you have a large family, perhaps each of you can take turns staying with her for a period of time. If you are looking at 24 hour care, check the CMS website for long term care facilities, look at their survey results and visit each facility. Cost is about $2500 - $4000 per month, here in the midwest. Spending down her money will need to occur before Medicaid will pick up the costs. Call your local Medicaid office to find out their criteria and what type of documentation you will need if and when you do apply for Medicaid benefits for her. Also, I would start with power of attorney paperwork so someone can make decisions on her behalf. Good Luck to you and your family.

For the state to cover it, first your mother has to be destitute. She can't have any savings or own a house. They go back 7 years in your records. If she has any savings or assets the state will take them all. You need to find an elder-care lawyer who can help you with this part.
Get your mom on some kind of Alzheimer's medicine if she's not already. It will prolong the time you can keep her home and slow down the progress. Find a local support group and ask them for help and advice. Contact the Alzheimer's association as well.
Take care of yourself as well as your mother. I won't lie to you. You have a long, terrible, heartbreaking road ahead of you. I've been on the road with my dad a little over 2 years and left a roadmap behind in my Alzheimer's blog.

my mother is in this condition, and the state of Oklahoma takes care of all her expenses, she is in a living center.she loves it there and has alot of friends. they take wonderful care of her. there staff is greatly certified to take care of Als patience. goodluck and God Bless...