Our House Assisted Living Blog

Dispelling the Myths Surrounding Alzheimer’s Disease

Posted by nate on March 22, 2013  |  No Comments

http://www.everydayhealth.com/alzheimers-pictures/myths-about-alzheimers-disease.aspx?xid=aol_eh-senior_4_20130318_#/slide-1

Eliminating VA Eligibility Report

Posted by nate on January 7, 2013  |  No Comments

To all Veteran’s and Families.  The Department of Vetern’s Affairs announced it is cutting the red tape for Veterans by eliminating the need for them to complete an annual Eligibility Verification Report.  Click here to read more Elimination of EVR

How to Apply for New Choices Waiver and Stay in Assisted Living

Posted by nate on December 21, 2012  |  No Comments

The New Choices Waiver is designed to serve people who meet nursing facility level of care and have been residing in a long term nursing facility or assisted living.  In the past, when assisted living residents exhausted their funds they would have to move to a long term nursing facility and apply for long term medicaid and then New Choices Waiver and wait at least 90 days and then move back to assisted living.  Now, you can be in assisted living and apply for Medicaid and New Choices Waiver without having to move to a long term nursing facility.

To apply for the waiver, residents of licensed assisted living facilities must be:

• At least 18 years of age,
• Living in a licensed assisted living facility for at least 120 consecutive days prior to requesting an application for the program, and
• Planning to continue to live in a licensed assisted living facility for a total of at least 180 days.

Assisted living applicants do not have to be Medicaid eligible at the time of application.  However, they must be Medicaid eligible prior to enrollment on the waiver

Applicants may meet any of the following Medicaid eligibility scenarios:

• Has not applied for Utah Medicaid -NCW will include a long term care Medicaid application with the NCW application and you can send them both together, or
• Has submitted a Medicaid application to the Department of Workforce Services but doesn’t know if it has been approved , or
• Is Utah Medicaid eligible

Applicant or person requesting the application contacts the Bureau of Authorization and Community Based Services 801-538-6155, Option 6 (SLC Area) or 1-800-662-9651, Option 6 (neighboring states).  Only applicants who are within 30 days of exhasuting all of their assets/resources should request application.

Examples of paperwork are attached here

New Choices Waiver Example Paperwork

Of the forms, documents and information required in the application packet, the following additional records are critical in determining if an applicant meets the Level of Care.  Our House Assisted Living will provide this information to you

• Most recent assisted living facility assessment
• Assisted Living facility service plan
• Current list of diagnoses
• Current list of medicaitons
• Any other documents or records that accurately portray the applicant’s level of functioning

Not every assisted living resident applicant will meet level of care criteria

Completed application forms and required documents should be faxed to New Choices Waiver: 801-323-1586

• NCW will review the application information to determine if length of stay, initial nursing facility level of care and age requirements are met
• NCW will coordinate with DWS to determine if the applicant is Medicaid eligible
• If any of the above requirements are not met, the application will be denied in writing.

Medicaid Contact Information

M, T, W, and F: 8-5

Thursdays: 11-5

801-538-6155

Department of Health

Division of Medicaid and Health Financing

PO Box 143112

SLC, UT 84114-3112

New Choices Waiver Contact Info

M, T, W, and F 8-5

Thursdays 11-5

Phone 801-538-6155 Option 6

Fax 801-323-1586

newchoiceswaiver@utah.gov

www.health.utah.gov/ltc

Department of Health

Division of Medicaid and Health Financing

New Choices Waiver Program

PO Box 143112

SLC, UT 84114-3112

Our House Assisted Living will be more than happy to assist you through this process.

Thank you.  Please contact us if you have any questions.

Veterans Waiting for Aid

Posted by nate on October 4, 2012  |  No Comments

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/28/us/veterans-wait-for-us-aid-amid-growing-backlog-of-claims.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all

Some Issues with Medicaid and VA Benefits

Posted by nate on September 28, 2012  |  1 Comment

I usually do not post negative issues, however, I feel that I need to express some concerns I have with a few issues.  First, let’s talk about Medicaid for Assisted Living.  We have several residents that are benefiting from the Medicaid program (New Choices Waiver) which allows residents to stay in Assisted Living homes without having to go to Nursing Homes.  And now, we have a wonderful benefit that allows residents of Assisted Living to apply for Medicaid directly while still in Assisted Living and not have to move to a nursing home in order to qualify.  This is a new program and I hope it will work well.  We are assisting several residents at this time to receive this benefit.  But this is the issue, what if you have a resident in Assisted Living that runs out of money, and needs just enough assistance that they are not safe to be alone in their own home or the family is not able or willing to take in their loved one.  (We have had several residents in this situation) What does this resident do?  They can’t go home, can’t pay for Assisted Living, can’t get approved for a nursing home on Medicaid because they do not have a “skilled need” and/or they are not accepting Medicaid residents.  I have a solution. How about Prison?  I received an email that talked about the benefits if our elderly residents live in Prison.  Here they are:  3 Meals a day, roof over your head, central heating and air conditioning, activities, and all the health care that you need including, new teeth, new hip, kness, kidneys, lungs, or heart, its covered.  And who would be paying for this? It’s the same government that just told you that you they cannot afford for you to go to a nursing home or assisted living.  Now, I am not suggesting or supporting that our elderly residents commit crimes to go to prison but just wanted to make a point that some things are a little backwards.

VA Issue.  The Veteran’s Aid and Attendance benefit assists the Veteran and/or surviving spouse financially to help pay for Assisted Living.  This benefit is wonderful and each Veteran and Spouse deserve this assistance for the time they served  and continue to serve our Country so well.  My issue is?  Why does it take so long to receive this benefit?  I currently have a resident that moved in last November and applied the day she moved in.  Its now been almost one year and no benefit has been received for this surviving spouse.  The current financial benefit is $1704.00 a month for the Veteran and $1094.00 a month for the surviving spouse.  The family member has been following up with phone calls and letters and the response each time is that the application is still in “processing” .  Meantime, the resident family member is making up the difference and many times the assisted living homes discounts the monthly fee in order for the resident not to have to go to a nursing home, if they would even qualify -see above- .  In the past, it took 4-6 months, which is still along time but recently we have been waiting 10+ months and still waiting for a lot of residents.  The hope is for the resident to receive this benefit and get retro-payed from the date of application.  However, if the resident passes away during the application process then there is no retro-pay and the family and/or assisted living will not be able to receive the difference that they have been paying or discounting.  I understand that the Assisted Livings do not have to accept residents that can’t pay the full amount and take on the risk of assisting family members with a discounted monthly fee, but you want to be able to help especially when you get to know them and know that there isn’t really another place for them to go (besides prison).

Anyway, I just wanted to get a few issues out there for people to think and talk about to find possible solutions.  Let me know what you think.  My email is nate@ourhouseassistedliving.com.  Thank you

New Choices Waiver/Medicaid Changes for Assisted Living in Utah

Posted by nate on September 6, 2012  |  No Comments

Please open the attachment below “New Choices Waiver Attachment” to read about the changes for Medicaid/New Choices Waiver in Assisted Living.  In short, it says that if you have been in an Assisted Living for more then 6 months you will not have to move out to a nursing home to qualify for Medicaid and the New Choices Waiver Program.  Its now possible to stay in Assisted Living and receive Medicaid benefits that will assist with the monthly fee.  Please read the letter and if you have any questions.  Please email me at nate@ourhouseassistedliving.com

Thank you

New Choices Waiver Attachment

Our House of Orem II Video Tour

Posted by nate on June 21, 2012  |  No Comments

Click on the Our House link below to watch a quick video tour of Our House of Orem II located at 430 South Main Street in Orem

Our House of Orem II Video Tour

Our House of Tremonton is now providing free transportation to the residents of Tremonton

Posted by nate on May 18, 2012  |  No Comments

Our House of Tremonton is excited to announce that we will be providing free transportation to and from Medical/Doctor appointments for the Seniors of Tremonton and surrounding areas.  Please call 435-257-5658 to get more information and to set up your appointment

Discussion with Governor Herbert about Assisted Living in Utah

Posted by nate on May 18, 2012  |  No Comments

Meet the Super Administrator for Our House of Provo

Posted by nate on May 1, 2012  |  1 Comment

Ashley Turnbow is from Kaysville Utah and has enjoyed working in health care for many years, in Skilled Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living Homes, Hospitals, Home Health, and Independent Living. She received her BA from Utah State University and recently returned from serving the people in Cape Verde Africa. She has a passion for serving others which is the reason why she has chosen to work in geriatrics.

Meet the Super Community Relations Director for Our House of Provo

Posted by nate on May 1, 2012  |  No Comments

Paula Heugly is from Sandy Utah and has worked in geriatrics since 1989. She has worked in skilled nursing facilities, ICFs and Assisted Living facilities in a variety of different positions and has a great passion for the geriatric population. She has enjoyed the positions as a CNA, Recreational and Social Service Director, Assistant Administrator, Administrator, and in the Marketing department.She has been married to her husband Brian Heugly for 23 years who is also working in the health care field. She has three sons and is now enjoying the life of being Grandma!