Archive for October, 2010

Question : When to decide a Nursing Home is needed? What questions to ask? How can we do this when insurance is void?
My mother in law passed out yesterday because of her high blood sugar. She was diagnosed borderline diabetic 10 years ago. With the EMT’s report on her blood glucose level being over 200, I’m certain she is diabetic. She refuses to do what the doctors advise her, and she refuses to take medicines. She may or may not have medicare. My husband and his brother have to talk about what insurance she has. We think it may be time for her to go to a Nursing Home because she is getting to the point where she needs 24 hour care/medical attention. She has a bad hip as well.
My question is…Is there a way to get her in a Nursing Home without insurance and just use her Social Security? Our family, nor my husband’s brother can support her financially. What should we do? How should we go about bringing this up to his mother? Instead of saving her money, or most of it for the past 14 years, she has spent most of it on Bingo, and Lottery Scratchers etc. and depended on her two sons to pay her way. So she has no money either. Ugh..what a mess. We are unsure of what to do. For her safety, she does need a Nursing Home. But how can one afford it without insurance, or barely any insurance, and no other means to pay?
Any suggestions, advice will be so appreciated. Thanks so much!
Please star this question so that I may receive more advice/help in this situation. Thank you.
Sorry, she is around 75 years old. Give or take a year.
Canam: She does smoke like a turned over train, so I imagine it’s not only her blood sugar, but her heart as well. Yes she does need to see a doctor, but she is a VERY STUBBORN woman. She doesn’t have any property. She rents. In fact, she has no assets at all. Just her things in her apartment.
nursing home insurance

Best answer:

Answer by canam
You didnt say how old she is. Usually if someone has no insurance and needs a nursing home, medicade will pay. If she is on Social Security, she should have medicare also. If she has any property, the money that medicade spends for nursing home care, will come out of her estate. It is complicated. I do think medicare pays for some inhome care. A blood sugar of 200 will not make you pass out. She needs to see a doctor because other medical problems, such as cardiac problems could make her pass out. I think a doctor would have to decide that she needs nursing home care. Unless she can be deemed incompetent, the decision has to be hers.