a little digital painting which sorta illustrates how i’ve been feeling lately…
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So today I get a call from the social worker at Dad’s nursing home. She wants to talk about the “balance.”
I ask, “What balance? I thought Medicare and his secondary insurance were still paying, plus I haven’t received a bill from you.”
She sez, “You have to spend down his money.”
I sez, “At this time, the lawyer is negotiating with the landlord about the $11k that the landlord is demanding as the full amount of his year’s lease, so I’m waiting on that.”
She sez, “Rent is not spend down, only medical bills.”
I sez, “I’ve paid all bills that have come in from doctors and hospitals. The PA Medicaid lady said that I could use his money for the rent.”
She sez, “I’ve never heard of that being allowed.”
I sez, “She told you that last month and I told you that and you asked me to call her for clarification, which I did and she said, “Pay the rent.”
She sez, “Pennsylvania holds the children financially responsible for the parents.”
I sez, “What? That’s insane!”
but it is true…
Apparently, Pennsylvania is one of 30 states in our fair Union that hold adult children responsible for their indigent parents. Now, from the word “indigent” we might think, “Well, my parents have a pension so they are not indigent.”
it ain’t necessarily so….
Indigent, in this context means that the income is less than the expenses. So my dad gets just under $2k a month from his pension and Social Security combined, but the nursing home charges $7k a month, therefore, he’s indigent and I, as his adult child can be held responsible for the balance. And in PA, the nursing homes will sue the children for payment when Medicaid refuses to pay. For example, Medicaid will refuse to pay in instances where the parent may have gifted the child money. So if the parent gave the kid $10k, according to Medicaid (in PA, your state may vary), the child owes 3 months worth of care to the nursing home before Medicaid will pay.
And if the child refuses?
Up to 6 months in prison.fuckin A
nota bene: i know the 3 months thing doesn’t compute, but somehow, the complicated formula that is used seems to hold children responsible for more than what is due. This may be incorrect on my part, but, you all get the drift. They want not only your money, but your hide.
ETA: the welfare lady changed her mind and said i can’t use the money for rent. i have to fill out a “hardship” form to be sent to harrisburg to
begrequest that they allow me to pay the rent out of his money so that the landlord doesn’t come after me to pay his rent. sigh. -
Landlords, lawyers and welfare workers are all conspiring to bring me to tears. I find them all despicable and I hate everyone.
I had forgotten how thoroughly awful the welfare system is. They exist through intimidation and are structured to make people feel like dirtbags and thieves. Their premise is that everything you think is yours, everything you’ve worked for, really belongs to them and that when you request help from the medicare/medicaid system (you know — the one we have all paid into for all our working lives) you are nothing but a dirty beggar looking for a free lunch.
For those of you faced with looking for care for yourself or a loved one, remember–medicaid IS part of the welfare system and you will have to justify your very existence, with verifiable proof before they will give you any help at all. Most importantly, make sure that you give all your stuff away at least 3 to 5 years before you decide to become ill or infirm. If you don’t, your children will suffer. And if you are the caretaker? Set things up so that you get paid for your trouble, so that keeping what is yours doesn’t look like a “gift” for which you will have to give every dime back.
AND DON’T SIGN A GOD DAMNED THING, EVER!
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Have you ever heard a dog scream? It’s chilling.
Both Loki and I stopped dead in our tracks when we heard Zappa scream. Rocky, the gorgeous, unfortunate German Shepherd across the street had gotten out again and ran past Zappa’s owner, grabbed her around the middle of her small body and tried to shake the life out of her.
Rocky’s owners have created a monster out of a beautiful animal by chaining him to a clothes line for the past few years. No exercise, no socializing, no job or purpose for an intelligent, powerful working dog. Rocky is about as neurotic and out of control as a dog can get without being completely insane. And I’m sure he could still become a wonderful dog if he was with a family who knew how to fulfill his physical and emotional needs. As it stands now, his family will either do nothing or put him down. I doubt if they have what it takes to rehabilitate him or to find him an owner who can.
Zappa made it through surgery. The emergency vet was able to repair the tear to her abdominal wall and she’s resting in recovery now. She will have a slow recovery because of her age, but she should be okay. Zappa is blessed with an owner who knows how to give her the kind of life a dog needs.
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Finally, a day without rain. Perfect day to take Loki and my camera to the park, or so I thought.
My first lesson of the day was that you can’t take a decent photograph while the dog tugs at the leash. Even if the leash is hooked to your waist rather than looped over your arm. The camera makes no distinction between one form of movement or the other…it all comes to a blurry end.
The second, and most alarming lesson was that Loki just doesn’t have the stamina for a walk around the park in 90 degree weather. After an hour or so it was obvious that she wasn’t going to make it back to the car. She was panting so heavily and having such trouble that even with frequent water and shade breaks, she was just plain done in. I finally poured most of the water over her head and belly and after letting her lie down for twenty minutes we managed to make it to the “Welcome Center” and an air conditioned lobby.
I met up with a park ranger who informed me that I was a good 2.5 miles from where I parked the car.
o dear
There was no way Loki could make it back under her own steam, so I called Brni. He dropped everything and dashed over to pick us up and drive us to my car.
From now on, Loki’s walks will be limited to our neighborhood and small shady parks close to home.
Croneswood Art 