Mom lived with us for four years before she finally qualified for LTC through Medicaid. Dementia and some blood pressure issues are her only dx. Last year, when she qualified, she was doing things like going outside, taking her clothes off, or going outside with her clothes off, trying to "leave" to go "home," etc. Those are the things that qualified her because they had a doctor take another look at those things, not because she ticked the normal boxes.
Fast forward to today, she's in a memory care facility and doing REALLY well. Like she's the most "with it" person in the facility. She has a review tomorrow and I just found out that they can kick her out of the program for no longer qualifying medically.
She CANNOT come back to my house. I almost didn't survive the first round of her living her. She has no other options of places to go. She can't afford self-pay at the facility. What do I do to prepare for this so I'm not caught with my pants down??
If so, THIS MAY HELP YOU BUY TIME ...
If you feel strongly about not being able to giver her the right care, then ask them for other options...
Please let us know how things are going and what decisions have been made. Maybe I didn't understand your post. Are we talking about Memory Care or Long Term Care?
Are you planning to be present for this review meeting?
How and why is your mother doing so much better? That doesn't sound like the normal progression for dementia.
Did she have a medical condition, such as UTI, which was successfully treated and resolved her dementia symptoms?
Is your mother able to live independently, that is, could she live in an apartment on her own? You could help her to find a HUD subsidized, low-cost senior apartment. If she is NOT able to live on her own, then she can not be "kicked out for not qualifying medically". If she needs community supports and services to help her with daily activities, then talk to the Medicaid worker about a HCBS waiver. That is Home and Community Based Services for people who qualify.
It could be this particular Memory Care facility can not keep her, but there must be other options - talk with the Medicaid Social Worker and find a solution.
Is your mother taking any medications that were added or increased from last year? That may be the reason for her more calm nature. My uncle can also be the most "with it" person in the facility on the surface but show timing is not fooling anyone that is with him more than an hour. Even the most "with it person" is there for a reason and the met the qualifications.
I would go into the meeting with a calmness and take notes. Don't become upset quite yet or feel you have to pro-actively figure out a plan when you don't know any details. Stop and take a deep breath. Even if they feel she doesn't belong at that type of facility they can't evict her immediately. You will have time to find another facility.