The Hannah Family

She’s a mean one

Today Claire found the “Max” Grinch headset I couldn’t keep on Chloe during the holidays. I’m guessing we will gift it to a more compliant dog. 

 

Claire is at a sleepover, just received this 😉

Claire is doing a great job in high school

This resonates with me

What a process

I met with the business office rep from Mom’s SNF today and signed a plan to mostly or completely reimburse them with Mom’s income (which is the same as Mark’s take-home accountant salary that supports six of us WITH all our real and side jobs) - if Mom hangs on until summer - something about applying my current payments to the earlier past due. Honestly, the acronyms and payment schedule went over my head but I trust these people. They welcomed Mom from day one despite the bleak financial situation as I mentioned more than once and Rex has provided phenomenal care. Nonetheless I feel guilty for giving all the available money to a facility that had no interest in us once it was gone (Brookdale) so I promised to contact Pat’s attorney in Durham. 

He responded immediately and confirmed that not only is my county the worst and appeals go unanswered, other clients of his have gone a YEAR to get to the point where we are. I let him know Mom is way better off than she’d be elsewhere, but I would love to fully reimburse her current caretakers. He’s going to forward our thread to a colleague, but forewarned appeals are contentious and unproductive.

Let him know that I have enough on my plate saying goodbye to my mom for the zillionth time on slow play and close up, her lawyer completely empathized. Told him the main reason for sharing is to raise awareness for the contribution to elder abuse. If Wake County, North Carolina (I’m calling us out) doesn’t provide adequate care for dementia patients, people will be forced to provide inadequate care in their homes. I used an example of locking granddad in the basement or his room, but I know based on Pat’s wandering when she was mobile this is real - not fiction.

Bottom line: Pat is good. Other Wake County residents... not so much, and this has me extremely concerned.

I am frustrated with the Medicaid office

Pat is now an NC Medicaid patient, but they sent a separate letter saying they weren't going to pay the past due amount ($18,000). They're supposed to approve within 45 days and retroactively pay 90 days back. Instead they dragged it out for 5 months and then drop this bombshell. It's horrible. I have a meeting to discuss this mess with the business office at her SNF after school on Wednesday. Why can't anything ever go smoothly?!

On Saturday I went to brunch with several neighbors, one of whom is a local hospice nurse who goes everywhere around here. I told her about Mom and she said immediately, "I don't know how you did it, but she is in the best skilled nursing facility available." That made my day because she would know. I let them know from the beginning that we don't have any more money, and they never treated her differently than any other patient. I'm looking forward to coming up with a plan so they are adequately reimbursed for all this care.

My ears were ringing for an hour

The entire elementary school assembled on Friday to see the VP get slimed; they earned it by successfully fundraising. The kids went crazy!

Mom spends part of her days by the nurses’ station

 She’s doing about the same lately. She was mumbling something unintelligible under her breath which is something that happens on a “good” day. Mom also opened her eyes and repeated the word “hey” after I said it which is the longest conversation we’ve had in a while.

 

Raising Alzheimer’s awareness

There are a lot of shirts and sweatshirts available for sale, but this is my favorite.

Good news and bad news

Claire and I visited Mom and delivered the two checks for her haircut yesterday, looks good. Mom was FINALLY approved for Medicaid yesterday which is a huge feat. Technically she doesn’t qualify because she worked her whole life. I’m not politically minded, but the situation is messed up and definitely should be revamped; that’s crazy. It took 5 months after the money for her continuous and very dedicated care ran out (THANK YOU, THANK YOU to my ancestors that she had anything) of meetings, phone calls, reminders, faxes, letters, in addition to producing 60 months of financial records, doctor bills, and more hoops than you can imagine. The latest bill for her skilled nursing home is over $18,000. The state will now help; I pray they come through in our time of need. 

Pat looks happy in this picture but it’s deceiving. Her eyes were open, I was right in her face telling her I love you, and there was no flicker of recognition or cognition whatsoever.