Nursing Home Residents Have Rights!
Many people incorrectly believe that once someone enters a nursing home, their freedom is over. . .
Read moreOnce someone enters a nursing home, it isn't always easy to move out again. While some residents may prefer nursing home care to living on their own, others would rather be independent. For residents who want to move out but need some assistance to live on their own, there may be help available. A federal program is trying to help nursing home residents in some states regain their independence.
Residents who have been in a nursing home for a long time may have to start all over again when they move out. They may need help finding a place to live, establishing a bank account, making a home accessible, and locating home care.
Local Elder Law Attorneys in Your City
In 2005, Congress established a federal program called Money Follows the Person that is designed to make it easier for nursing home residents to move out. Currently, 29 states and the District of Columbia participate in the program, which provides personal and financial support to help eligible nursing home residents live on their own or in group settings. The new health reform law extends federal funding for the program until 2016. The law also reduces the amount of time an individual must reside in a nursing facility in order to qualify for the program, from 180 days to 90 days.
To find out if you are eligible for the program in your state, contact your Area Agency on Aging. Or ask a qualified elder law attorney to help you research options.
For an article in USA Today on the Money Follows the Person program that explains which states are participating in the program, click here.
While leaving a nursing home is a good move for some, it won't work for everyone. The AARP has come up with some questions to ask before choosing to move out of a nursing home.
For the full article from the AARP on moving out of a nursing home, click here.
Many people incorrectly believe that once someone enters a nursing home, their freedom is over. . .
Read moreThe $250 stimulus payment for Social Security beneficiaries is not considered income to nursing home residents on Medicaid ....
Read moreIn an unexpected move, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is forbidding nursing homes from entering into...
Read moreMedicaid Rules, etc