My parents ( 80  and 74) are living in assisted living in Chattanooga Tn. We
have been spending their moneys ( savings plus SS)for the rent,
medicines  insurance. Their assests RUN OUT this summer !  My sister
and I cannot make up the shortfall and they need care  cannot live
without round the clock( so subsidised housing isnt enough)

We cant get them into a nursing home:  waiting lists and lack of enough medical
need

There is NO medicaid fallback in TN for asstd living like theyd get if
they were in a nursing home at this moment. The home cannot help us !
These people are gonna be homeless ! My sister cant take them in   nor
can I . Elder Care attorneys have been no help.

What am I missing? Where can I turn next?
The after SS shortfall is  2200 a monthy at todays expense

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Request for Question Clarification by nenna-ga on 05 Apr 2004 16:56 PDT

Can you tell us a bit more about why they need around the clock care,
but they don't have enough of a medical need to get into a nursing
home? Some details would be great about the situation so that I could
find out the best info tailored to your needs....

Nenna-GA

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Clarification of Question by fredboy-ga on 05 Apr 2004 17:48 PDT

Its a judgement call-and you gotta know my parents.....and we want them together

They WONT do alot of things  they can do.
Mom has moderate dimentia and never walks  can barely walk on walker and may
be "appropriate" now would never remember meds cant bathe unaided

Dad has NO MAJOR health issues BUT  an uncontrollable closure of his eyes
that makes it hard to get around on foot NO Driving  lots of psych
issues  esp like if no one bathed him...   hede never bathe or change
clothes ( mom too)
Obseesion with Ice: constantly needs someone to get him ice to chew !

alone:

Shes a fall risk
He may not take meds on sched
Need all meals prepared ( both)
He had innapropriate use of 911 for "social visits"from EMS when they
last lived independantly in Nashville before moving them to
Chattanooga where my sister lives as I travel alot ( and went into
asstd living whose staff did more
than most would do for them at that level) Now were broke.

Govt housing would still burden us with someone going in financially

and we just feel they need care round the clock

I just worry if dad  more so physically will qualify for nursing home proper
and thus go broke and onto medicaid...were about at the financial levels
for medicaid...but  someone  a  doctor   social worker  has to deem them
both needy physically AND   hospitalised first !

Their doctors have just agreed TO hospitalise them for nursing home assessment

I dont know who makes the final decision on that   esp for dad
the doctors ? ( I think they would say yes)  a social worker?
and I need a "plan B" in case some social worker says these ppl 
wont  vs  cant    either way   theyll be under a bridge if something doesnt

thanks

fredboy
give...well not really   but you know what i mnean

Here's an agency that might be able to help:

OLDER ADULT SERVICES OF TEAM EVALUATION 
600 North Holtzclaw Ave., Suite 102 
Chattanooga, TN 37404-1220 
Phone: (423) 698-8214 
Fax: (423) 622-0564 
Hours: 8 a.m. -- 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday 
Fees: Based on income/ ability to pay 
Director?s Name: Jan Robinson 
For Service: Any elderly person, family or community agency can call
with a referral
Serving Areas: Bradley and Polk Counties as well as other Southeast
Tennessee Counties.
Ages: 60 and older 
Eligibility: Any older person in need of geriatric evaluation 
Funding: State, federal, private and United Way of Bradley County.  
Services: Provides in-home geriatric diagnostic evaluation and case
management for frail, elderly persons. Helps them to remain as
independent as possible in their homes and prevent premature nursing
home placement.  Home visits can be arranged to assess needs, arrange
in-home psychological evaluations, develop a plan of services, monitor
the situation by phone or further visits, and assist with information
and referral to community resources.

http://www.unitedwaybc.com/mqad03e.html