“Please get me out of here!” she whispered urgently into my ear. This plea started a four-month whirlwind journey for Laura H. and me, her professional geriatric care manager. I often seek entitlement and benefits programs for my clients. I call this process “prospecting for gold” because the public generally does not know about the many federal, state and local programs, qualifications, how to apply [em] and how to persist in getting approved for them. I found myself undertaking such a “prospecting” expedition with Laura.
Laura had resided at a nursing home for over a year. At 83 years old, she is single and has no living relatives. She is a Connecticut Medicaid recipient, and her elder law attorney located funding to hire me to visit weekly and advocate for her needs. Laura had exhausted her Medicare nursing home coverage. She remained at the nursing home because her care needs could no longer be met at her former congregate living residence, and she had nowhere else to go. When I initially introduced myself to the nursing home staff, they described her as “difficult” and “demanding.” When I met Laura, I saw a pleasant but very depressed and anxious woman who did not belong there.
Although the average Connecticut assisted living facility is priced significantly beyond Laura’s reach, I investigated a fairly new state Private Pay Assisted Living Pilot Demonstration Project, offered at only five assisted living facilities statewide. One of them happened to be located about a 15-minute drive from Laura’s present nursing home and the community where she had lived her entire life.
I made an appointment and brought Laura to tour the facility. Following our tour, Laura’s eyes danced, and with a huge smile she declared, “Let’s go for it.” Over a period of four months there was an intricate application process, including follow-up appointments and interviews, as Laura had to qualify financially and functionally to be accepted there. I kept the process moving to meet all required deadlines, and between Laura, her attorney and me, we did it. Laura and I shared tears of joy when I gave her the good news that she was accepted to move in as soon as possible.
But my job was far from over. Over the next three weeks, I coordinated the care plan, helped her find furniture and durable medical equipment, and oversaw deliveries. I transported her and her possessions to her new home and saw that she was settled in.
Laura has since been transformed into a happy, vibrant person who loves her new life and her new apartment. I still visit her regularly, and each time I leave, I am continually showered with gratitude for the opportunity to help Laura find her own gold.
