Senior Housing (Martinsburg, Washington, Man: estate, income, jobs)

[millersangel]

Originally Posted by Katie1

Ladylinda this is about where the housing is.....If you know names & numbers for contact why not list them?

As for the rest I am glad you got such great care here in WV......but not all of us that need help do. I only only get help IF I want personal care which I dont need...what I need is some one to clean! Not Bathe me & as for moving Furniture forget it!! Needles to say I dont get any of that Free help....

I could be wrong but I believe you are thinking of the Medicaid waiver program.

First, you have to be disabled to a certain degree. It sounds like you would meet that criteria. The number of hours you get per month depends upon the level of disability.

Yes, you do have to accept a certain amount of personal care.

A standard Medicaid waiver form has checkboxes to cover people like you who need very little help to those who are bed bound.

For example the bathing part would go something like:tub/shower/sponge/total/assist/supervise. When your plan of care is established, the RN would probably circle shower and supervise which is what the homemaker would use when she came in.

You are still able to bathe yourself.

There are other areas like hair, ambulation, meals and so on. You could be supervised for ambulation. Anyone can fall. In other words, you can accept personal care. Or not. If you don't, you won't get the services. It doesn't necessarily mean someone has to bathe you directly.

On the plan of care, there are also checkboxes for house work and laundry which the homemaker will do. Most people form close bonds with their homemakers. They can take you to the store, to dr appts., etc.

I would contact any home health agency and ask about their homemaker services. There are a lot of people who are like you who get them.

[harborlady]

millers I'm not clear about her age/ailment/income situation but I've gotten the impression shes one of those folks who falls through the cracks because shes got one dollar more than the cap limit to qualify for aid, but not enough to cover the out of pocket of a home health agency.
Do you know if there is a senior agency for wv that comprehensively manages resources? I found this one link below, but it seems limited to state level.
The West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services
according to this link, even if shes not eligible for medicaid, they have a sliding scale choice for home health care. They make no mention of minimum/maximum charges though.

[millersangel]

I was under the impression it was personal care she objected to. Which is not unusual. Most people do even when they can't do it themselves anymore as she can.

I'm just basing my assessment on disability on the statement that she can't run a sweeper. If you can't push a sweeper, something is wrong with you. I hope she doesn't take offense at that remark. It isn't meant to be hateful just an uninformed opinion that she has some physical limitations. Which would qualify her under Medicaid. Even if it's mild. You just get less hours.

And I don't know her income which of course is a big factor.

The bottom line is the personal care doesn't have to be infringe on what you can do yourself. In fact, HHAs and homemakers are trained to let the clients be as independent as possible. But you do have to have some personal care.

In Mercer Co., we have a program called Lighthouse which is administered by Mercer County Commission on Aging. It is a chore program based on income. I don't know what other counties have it.

[Katie1]

Since this has become about me.......and there are so many people like me that fall thru the cracks. See if you guys can figure this out! Age 52....Income $651 SSD & $6 SSI and $10 Food Stamps....I have Medicaid...Medicare...Blue RX. I have medically wrong bad back pinched nerves...2 types of arthris [RA & O] in back hips knees hands feet well all over at this point in time. Standing & walking is very limited 15 - 20 min on a good day before I sit of fall! I use a mobility scooter outside the apt & a power chair inside...and have a home trained asst dog ...hummmm think thats it. I still dont qulify for a housekeeper for a measly 3 perhaps 4 hours a month to run a vac [to chase dog hair dust & dirt] & mop floors [no rugs] in a very small 24' x 24' apt!! oh thanks for caring......

[harborlady]

katie its about everybody getting what they need IMO. sorry if I've embarassed you. I'm afraid I haven't a whole lot to offer, since I'm more familiar with NY system of things.
Changes are happening in other states like NY and chicago, mostly because social workers have made many numerous complaints on behalf of people just like you. Senior services wind up detracting from disability services, when really they should be equal. They're trying to level things out and consolidate services so that age becomes less of a factor and need more significantly weighted. I'm not sure whats happening in WV. Hopefully millers angel would know resources you haven't tried yet.

Could you share with us who you applied with and got denied? I could keep looking online some more. Did you check out that senior link above? Just because you aren't an official senior doesn't mean they'd across the board deny you. Let us know.

[harborlady]

This is the kind of thing I'm referencing: Home & Community Based Services - Medicaid Aged & Disabled Waiver

This one, the qualifier you need is medical from your doctor, the rest is financial. The age factor is less emphasized.

The Aged and Disabled Waiver Program provides in-home and community services to individuals 18 years of age and older who are medically and financially eligible. Medical eligibility is determined based on an assessment by a medical professional. Financial eligibility is based on monthly income that cannot exceed 300% of the poverty (SSI) level and assets that cannot be valued at more than $2,000; financial eligibility determination is made at the county WV Department of Health & Human Resource office. Services provided in the ADW Program include Case Management, Consumer-Directed Case Management, Homemaker (see Homemaker Selection Forms listed by county), Transportation, and RN Assessment and Review. Services are provided by Medicaid-enrolled providers throughout the state who follow policy based on the ADW Manual issued by the WV Department of Health and Human Resources. These agencies are monitored for quality assurance by Bureau of Senior Services’ staff (see Monitoring Tools). The program is provided guidance and feedback by a Quality Assurance & Improvement Advisory Council. ADW recipients are subject to Medicaid Estate Recovery provisions.

[Katie1]

My VA Med Doctor had the Social Worker check into all the programs in my area when I did not meet the qulification thru the VA.....When she hit dead ends she contacted the DHHR [welfare] Social worker. In the end they suggested that my son & I go back to living together so he could do what I cant!! Which I think is the pits as I am sure my son would rather live on his own At 33 yrs old! Anyway that was last year...we applied for Secion 8 together Today I am told we finally came to the top of the list & can now look for housing!! But still why is my son responsible for me....I worked hard not to be depent so he could have a life now the system throws this at us. What happens to the those without children?

[LadyLinda]

Originally Posted by harborlady

she did answer, I guess you just didn't understand her answer. the answer is, depending on your needs, eligibility for programs might mean you can apply to any apartment if the landlord qualifies. Not just the senior apartment complexes people think about.
senior issues get very tangled to health/ability/mental status/income, and so solutions arent as straightfoward as yes and no. I've had a helluva time making sure my 86yr old granny is taken care of before I leave the state.

katie if you're having trouble managing things due to health, I think finding a senior patient advocate or a social worker would be in your best interest. They can evaluate your needs and give you advice catered to your specific situation. Ask your doc about an advocate, they can ususally hook you up with someone.

I know this about housing. Also I mention care.
In WV you contact committee on Aging,and the 'personal care' can be putting lotion on you feet or back because you can't reach it. As a diabetic for instance, you need to take care of dry skin or you get a sore.
washing hair, doing household things you are not able to do.

Md too, only you go thru the health dept. I know many say I can do it myself.. well,then, what can I tell you about that.. don't tell them that. either you need help or you do not. The 5 hr a day program ion WV ,(Title 19) they can take you places. In MD you get a 'nurce/worker and can fetch or take you for groc. etc.

Usually anyone who qualifies for housing w/out children, would not need to build a houde, if they are disabled, handicap in any way, etc.. I tell you becaus ei have done them both in WV and MD

Watch the newspapers. the apts HAVE to advertise and keep a list goin gof people who qualify. Ask realtors, they do know. They are usually the ones who have them.
I have a bad back, diabetes, arthritis and a lung disease. I can drive, but vacuuming is nearly impossible. So is reaching out to wash dishes and loading heavy wet clothes. Those are personal services. If you tell them you can do it yourself, then you are telling them you don't need the help.

[LadyLinda]

Originally Posted by Katie1

Since this has become about me.......and there are so many people like me that fall thru the cracks. See if you guys can figure this out! Age 52....Income $651 SSD & $6 SSI and $10 Food Stamps....I have Medicaid...Medicare...Blue RX. I have medically wrong bad back pinched nerves...2 types of arthris [RA & O] in back hips knees hands feet well all over at this point in time. Standing & walking is very limited 15 - 20 min on a good day before I sit of fall! I use a mobility scooter outside the apt & a power chair inside...and have a home trained asst dog ...hummmm think thats it. I still dont qulify for a housekeeper for a measly 3 perhaps 4 hours a month to run a vac [to chase dog hair dust & dirt] & mop floors [no rugs] in a very small 24' x 24' apt!! oh thanks for caring......

Yes you would in either state. It is over 50, but also includes medical disability.
See below.. in Wv contact COMMITTEE On Aging.. In Md The Health Dept. I KNOW you qualify.

[LadyLinda]

Originally Posted by Katie1

My VA Med Doctor had the Social Worker check into all the programs in my area when I did not meet the qulification thru the VA.....When she hit dead ends she contacted the DHHR [welfare] Social worker. In the end they suggested that my son & I go back to living together so he could do what I cant!! Which I think is the pits as I am sure my son would rather live on his own At 33 yrs old! Anyway that was last year...we applied for Secion 8 together Today I am told we finally came to the top of the list & can now look for housing!! But still why is my son responsible for me....I worked hard not to be depent so he could have a life now the system throws this at us. What happens to the those without children?

VA is harder to get help. I moved to WV near my Mom because she was bad, healthwise, so I could get help for her and surprised that I could get it myself Quickly. You have to do a spendown til your income is low enough if it is over 800, you might have to work on that spendown for the apt.