My mom had a stroke a little over a year ago and has been in the nursing home since. The stroke, along with early onset dementia has really effected her mental state. My dad is still living, but not in very good health himself, so when she first had the stroke, before she lost the mental capacity to do so, she named my sister and I as POA’s so my dad didn’t have to be present every time we needed a piece of paper or a signature. The nursing home has been pushing for me to allow them to act on mom’s behalf, as far as her Medicaid and Medicare goes.
Has anyone had any experience with this? I’m just not sure I trust them to act in her best interest, but I could just be a bit paranoid because I don’t care for the NH administrator.
TIA for any input
The system sucks! alot of stress yes, thats why you need to know what month and year they will need paper work from family to help your family member get benefits. other wise also the facility can look into a judge and grant them the right for them to have all finances come to then for there client and they will take over from any poa/ HCP and living family member, that way any money owed and not available in the bank they can sell to auction off anything of value to pay any past debts owed..
You and your sister have Power of Attorney for your mother, quite properly. Between you, what are you doing about your mother's Medicare and Medicaid management? How are your mother's NH bills paid? You can't, in any case, transfer your authority to another person so perhaps it would be best to find out what the NH wants done.
DO NOT GIVE THEM THAT POWER!! trust me u will thank me later you never did and its best to get a notary asap and get power over them before they do and trick ur loved one into signing a POA & HEALTH CARE PROXY ASAP!!!!
Basically, if a person is unable to handle their own finances there's a process to have someone else appointed as "rep payee" for handling the SS payments. This can be done whether the person has appointed a POA or not--it's a separate process. If a person is covered by Medicaid in a NH, the person's entire SS payment needs to go to the NH for their care except for a small persnal needs allowance each month. If a family member or other outside person is the rep payee, they are responsible for making sure the NH gets the required amount each month from the SS payment. In some cases, it's more convenient for all involved to have the NH be appointed as rep payee, which would be just for making the payment from the SS--not any other decisions about Medicare, Medicaid, or medical care. The POA would still be able to do all that, as well as handle any other finanacial matters if they also have DPOA.
Legally, you cannot hand over your POA to anyone else. Mom needs to assign someone.
I have never heard of a NH being able to change Medicaid. I think once ur in a NH its pretty standard. Medicaid pays for everything.