Frequently Asked Questions FAQs

Caregiving is a complex undertaking. Many caregivers find themselves in the role and are often unprepared. The responsibilities often require:

• Planning
• Physical resources
• Psychological resources
• Financial resources
• Support from family and friends.
• Support from elder care agencies
• Government intervention in the form of Senior Service Agencies or the Court System

A Senior Adult who has been hospitalized is often fragile and disoriented. Sometimes, they are not sent home but are discharged from the hospital to a rehabilitation facility or a Skilled Nursing Facility. A successful discharge requires planning. A Geriatric Care Manager or Social Worker can be enlisted to facilitate the process, including engaging the services of a Home Health Aide, investigating the services and practices of a rehabilitation facility, and preparing the home.

Someone qualifies for skilled nursing care if they require daily care to rehabilitate from an illness, injury, condition, or surgery.

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for:

• People who are 65 or older
• Certain younger people with disabilities - You have been entitled to Social Security disability benefits for at least 24 months (that need not be consecutive);
• People with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant, sometimes called ESRD)
• You receive a disability pension from the Railroad Retirement Board and meet certain conditions;
• You have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, which qualifies you immediately
• You have permanent kidney failure requiring regular dialysis or a kidney transplant — and you or your spouse has paid Social Security taxes for a specified period, depending on your age.

Medicare holders pay monthly premiums. To qualify for Medicare, a person or their spouse needs to have paid into the Social Security System for a minimum of 10 years. The window for Medicare application is four months before you turn 65 and 3 months after the month you turn 65--a total of 7 months. You may have to pay a penalty if you miss your Initial Enrollment Period.

Medicare does pay for home health care service, but only under certain conditions. These four requirements, all of which must be met, these are:

• You are homebound and need the help of a person or equipment to leave home
• You require the intermittent skilled care of a licensed Nurse or licensed Therapist
• Your doctor has signed a home health certification stating that you qualify for Medicare home care because you are homebound and require intermittent skilled care
• You receive your home health care from a Medicare-certified home health agency

No one can force you to surrender your employer’s insurance coverage and use Medicare. If your employer has more than twenty employees, you are entitled to insurance coverage on the employer’s plan and can use your employer’s Insurance Plan as your Primary Insurance and Medicare as your Secondary Insurer.

Medicaid is an income-based program that helps millions of people in the U.S. pay for their healthcare. Medicaid is funded jointly by the Federal government and each state. One of its primary functions is to fund the cost of nursing homes and Home Care. Medicaid supplements a person’s own health insurance, if you already have coverage, and will work alongside Medicare, if you are a senior or disabled person who is eligible for both.

To qualify for Medicaid, the applicant must be:

• A US citizen or resident alien
• Be a resident of the state in which they are applying
• Meet the income and asset requirements of the state in which they reside
• Be 65years old, blind, or permanently disabled

There are a number of housing options to investigate, these include:

• Retirement communities
• Adult congregate living facilities
• Board and Care homes
• Assisted Living facilities.
• Shared housing

Organizations such as Care Patrol and A Place for Mom that will assist with the placement of Senior Adults in suitable housing.