Can my elderly parent stay at home instead of going to a nursing home?

For the elderly living in the community who have medical and financial needs, the State of CT Dept. of Social Services offers a program called "CT Home Care Program for Elders" (CHCPE) which will allow the individual to stay at home and have their needs met if they meet all of the eligibility requirements. "Its purpose is to enable individuals 65 or older to remain at home in a safe environment and not be unnecessarily institutionalized." CTLawHelp.org There are asset and income eligibility requirements, as well as functionality requirements, that must be met prior to being approved for the program. The information in this blog is a brief synopsis for the CHCPE Category 3 Medicaid Waiver Program.

A friend recently told me that her mother is starting to fail and assumed the eventual outcome would be a skilled nursing facility (SNF). There are many times an elderly parent protests at the thought of going into a SNF, and they simply want to "stay at home". With the CHCPE program, that can make it possible. There are no guarantees, but with proper guidance and support, the possibility can be a life saver.

One of the eligibility requirements is asset limits. For a single individual (applicant) living at home, they must be spent down to a maximum level of $1,600.00. There are certain assets that are exempt from this scenario, such as the home (as long as the individual lives there and the equitable value is less than $878,000), one car, and life insurance with an aggregate total of under $1,500.00, household items, and a prepaid Irrevocable funeral contract of $8,000.00 and a Revocable burial contract. Click below to see more on funeral contracts. http://www.ctfda.org/docs/funeraltrustbrochure.pdf All other assets will have to be cashed in and spent down to below the $1,600 maximum allowable level. Things you may want to consider when spending down: Purchase the funeral contracts, pay estimated income taxes, purchase medical supplies for applicant.

Another eligibility requirement is (gross) monthly income. DSS will take a look at the gross figures prior to any deductions for Medicare or health insurance premiums, income tax withholding, etc. The income level for 2019 is now $2,313.00 (gross) maximum a month. This includes Social Security, pension, annuities (that cannot be cashed in), etc. If the income level is more than that, the applicant can apply for a Pooled Trust with the PLAN OF CT with the assistance of a qualified attorney.

The applicant must also meet certain functional eligibility requirements. Meaning the applicant needs help with a certain number of ADL's (Activities of Daily Living). Some of those activities are bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, cooking, taking medication. To determine this eligibility the applicant will set up a time for a qualified individual from an access agency to come to their home to assess the functional needs of the applicant.

If all of the eligibility requirements are met, then a full Medicaid application will have to be filed with the DSS. For questions or help on the application, please contact Elder Law Paralegal Services, LLC at lisahasko.elps@gmail.com or call 860-384-7080.

*Disclaimer: This post does not constitute legal advise and does not establish a business to client relationship. If you need legal advice you should consult with an attorney.