Is it cheaper for the state to keep you in your home as you age than to pay assisted living / nursing home care?

I would think at home . . . as long as you can do daily chores and duties.

They talked about a home health aid coming in a couple times a week to help.

I actually know a lot about this. I manage a program that does exactly this. It is cheaper to keep you at home.

I’m thrilled you’ll be getting an aide to come during the week to help you along with upgrades on your house.

It has the added benefit that you get to stay home instead of going into an institution.

Well ya @Hawaii_Jake! ...are they going to pay for all these upgrades?

I worked for the program that did this, and in NYS, if you have Medicaid, they would pay for all kinds of stuff – ramps, lifts, etc. Not sure about Kansas.

I used to go out in the field with the public health nurse and assess people who had Medicaid who needed help at home.

@Dutchess_III How do YOU feel about this? Would you rather stay home or go to assisted living?

Well as soon as it’s finished I think I’d rather stay here.

I don’t qualify for medicaid.

@Dutchess_III How will the aide be paid for?

I assume by the state. IDK.

@Dutchess_III That would be an important detail to discuss.

Ok. Next time they come around I will. May not be able to stay home after all.
Assisted living is $7000 a month.

Hopefully there’s a plan in place in case you have to go to assisted living and pay for it, or does Medicare pay for it?

Medicare paid for aids to come to my mom’s house. She could have had someone clean also, but I did that for her.

In the County I worked in, Medicare would pay for a few hours of an aide here and there, but Medicaid would pay for a live in, if you needed it. People with Medicaid got way more than people with Medicare.

Well yeah. Medicaid would pay for assisted living (if you qualify.)
Medicare will not.
Maybe that’s why they didn’t ask me.

Don’t need a live in @jca2.

@Dutchess_III I know, my point being with Medicaid, a person is eligible for all kinds of things, way more than Medicare.

I know that @jca2. But there is a pretty good downsize to it too

i don’t understand your last sentence, @Dutchess_III.

Medicaid has negative side too.

If a person only needs help a few hours a day or a few times a week it’s going to be cheaper than moving into a facility. When someone needs full time care I don’t know the math.

@JLeslie in the County I worked in, if you don’t have a room for the aide to sleep in, you couldn’t get a live in because the aide is supposed to have some privacy, and if you need to be cared for overnight, only in rare circumstances could you get a live in (2/12’s) because one live in is supposed to have 12 hours of work and 12 hours where she is relatively undisturbed (only waking up once a night to change a diaper), so if someone needed more than that, they’re probably having to go to a facility.

@Dutchess_III There are definitely advantages and disadvantages to everything, yes.

@jca2,I definitely dont need a full time aid as you described, LOL!

My reason for asking the question was to sus out why they seemed to kind of get happier feet the longer we talked.

To recap, I’m perfectly healthy except for my feet. As you go through your day imagine trying to do what you’re doing while sitting in a chair. Those are my only restrictions.

^^My aunt’s aide prepared some meals, cleaned the apartment, went shopping for her, and took her to run errands and to doctor’s appointments. She helped bathe her too. She was there 6 hours a day I think. 11:00–5:00. Something like that.

Don’t think Medicare would cover that much time.
And I can shower by my self and I don’t wear a diaper.

My aunt just couldn’t get into the shower safely by herself. She could do it, but she shouldn’t do it. Medicaid paid for it. She was able to go to the bathroom on her own otherwise. She could still walk a little, just not far distances.

I don’t qualify for medicaid.

If the people left their business card, yu can cal them and discuss how it might be paid for. If the state is paying, it’s got to be from a program. My guess is Medicare or Medicaid.

When you eventually need more help you can pay out of pocket, it doesn’t have to be medicaid.

Maybe Medicare pays for some help also?

Medicare should.

Medicare pays some things like someone coming in a few hours a couple times a week.
Anything more than that and you have to qualify for medicaid to pay for that.

Oh sure @JLeslie. I’ll just write a check. No problem.

When I broke my ankle I got housekeeping help three times a week, PT at home for about 6 weeks and a visiting nurse all for free from Medicare.

That makes sense @janbb.
But there is a cap on what they’ll provide.
As someone said you get a lot more benefits with medicaid.

^^ Got it. Wish you luck!

Thanks! Things look up and things look down. Stupid fucking feet. Other than that I am so perfectly healthy.