The social worker is telling my retired mom (nearly 65) to deplete her IRA (her only savings) to pay for very expensive home health care (has no insurance and doesn't qualify) like TPN and nursing and such. Even if she did this, it wouldn't be enough to cover everything (she has cancer and it most likely will recur after this course of treatments).
Can the County hospital force her out like this? I don't think so but I'm unsure if anyone has any insight on this. The Dr. has been keeping her in for this reason until the chemo treatment reduces the tumor so she can eat again.
Thanks in advance everyone, and please don't tell me about social services because she does not qualify (this is going on 5 months and it's a mute point, they won't do it...it's a crummy State system)
2006-12-18 09:01:36 · 6 answers · asked by . 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
I am a nurse in a hospital on a cancer unit, and I feel like I can explain the situation so you can understand. Hospitals are not nursing homes or in the business of taking care of people who cannot care for themselves. They are acute care institutions who treat you until you are medically stable then send you home, whether its a nursing home, your sons home, or your own home.
or some other persons home. The services a hospital provide are not cheap. Hospitals are not a motel, hotel or a maid service. They are there to make you better and when the treatment is over, its time to get on home.
Family members cringe when it is time for their relative to go home. They want them to stay in the comfort of the hospital.
If your mother has money somewhere, unfortunately, she will have to use it to continue her care. Medical care in the USA is not free, it is very expensive, and if she has money, she is going to have to dig into it to pay her bills
I can tell you love your mother. I have to say, I would probably discuss with her oncologist her life expectancy with TPN and without it. Sometimes the desire help only prolongs the outcome. Peace and Christ Love. Prayers are with you during this very difficult time.
2006-12-18 10:25:15 · answer #1 · answered by happydawg 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You should speak with a lawyer about the specifics of your case, however if you have no legal/financial protections in place, the health care system can require one to liquidate virtually all of their assets including their home to pay for services until the individual reaches a point where he or she qualifies for programs based on need. There are many legal manuevers you can make to try to protect her assets, but you must act soon. In the state of Illinois for example, if you are trying to protect a parent's home, it is a three year process. Good Luck and I hope your mother comes through ok.
2006-12-18 09:09:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The reason she doesn't qualify for medicaid/medicare is because the state sees her IRA as an assett and when it is depleted and she has no other way to pay then she will qualify for medicaid/medicare to cover her. They don't care if the money runs out before her treatment does...all they care about is not putting out money that they see as unnecessary because she has a way to pay at leat part of what needs to be paid. I was gifted a house in a small rural town in OK, there were no job opportunities for me, I had a car so I moved to OKC to live with my grandparents...I was pregnant with my oldest child and when I went down to apply for SoonerCare(medicaid) I was denied because my vehicle was worth too much...it could be sold to pay my medical expenses, and then the worker told me that it wouldn't matter if I did sell the car because I owned a house in another county...I tried to explain that I couldn't get a job there because of being pregnant and that I had (at that time) no education to speak of to get a job...she said that I had to live in the house before they would help me...I had to sell the house and my vehicle, neither of which paid the total of expenses that came from having my son...so there I was with a newborn and no house and no car...Thank the Lord I had an understanding set of Grandparents...they took me and my son in and took care of us until I could get on my feet...I hope things get better for you and your Mom...
2006-12-18 09:21:35 · answer #3 · answered by Shannon M 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No one has to accept any treatment--they can't make your mom do anything, legally. I would suggest her seeing what she can do about hiring her own home health care worker or helper--if that's what she wants to do. You can also see if her church or other local volunteer or low-cost organizations. Or maybe family can rotate staying with her.
2006-12-18 09:07:53 · answer #4 · answered by Clueless 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i hate to say this but have her commit a crime. they state takes better care of inmates then they do honest, obeying citizens. I am not being sarcastic either. It is said but some times to get help you have to go to the extremes.
2006-12-18 11:31:03 · answer #5 · answered by always 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we would desire to consistently proceed to furnish emergency wellbeing care with one small substitute. everybody dealt with could have their criminal status checked, and in the event that they are got here across to be criminals (unlawful extraterrestrial beings, murders, rapist, or the different decrease existence style) would be arrested, charged, and the two despatched to reformatory or deported. in the event that they are deported, their homestead u . s . a . would desire to be charged for his or her scientific institution stay and any and all court docket costs besides.
2016-12-11 11:40:22 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋