No Safety Net - Elder Care In America

[morgandawn]

This is an actual conversation I had this morning. Note: the programs described are not actually for broken legs - I just simplified. Our state - which is more generous than most states - offers fragmented and complicated programs for seniors on low income. If you sign up for one, you are locked out of all the rest. Yes you can switch, but you go back to the end of the line. For some the wait list is 2 years.

Me: Hello, I understand there's a program that will help my mom if she breaks her leg again. Can you tell me more about it?

Social Worker: Oh you mean the program for people who break their ankles?

Me: No, the one for people who break their legs and need intensive care because they can't get in and out of bed

Social Worker: Oh that program, well does she have a broken leg now?

Me: No. She had one last year and it was a nightmare and she almost died because of it. We just want to find out what the program is all about so that we can plan ahead because she has fragile bones and is likely to fracture her leg again

Social Worker: Well that's handled by a different department and I don't know much about it. I'll refer you to Case Management Program A instead.

 

Me: I know the Case Management Program A. I reached out to them last week and they told me that they only handle cases where someone breaks their left leg.

Social Worker: Correct. For right legs we'd send your mom somewhere else when the time comes.

Me: Can you direct me to basic information about both the right and left broken leg programs. Are they the same? Are there any qualifying criteria? Does she have to be over 65 or have a certain income level? We just want to know what help we can expect when she breaks her leg again

Social Worker:. Well qualifying is complicated, and it takes a lot of work for us to figure out whether or not she belongs in the right broken leg or the left broken leg program and frankly whether she even qualifies for any broken leg program. So you just have to wait and find out. In the meantime, l can refer you to Case Management Program A to help guide you to the various options

Me: Will they be able to give me an overview about both broken leg programs?

Social Worker:. Are you only interested in the broken leg programs?

Me: I'd like to know about all the programs that my mom might be eligible for. Broken ankles, broken legs, broken arms, broken wrist, broken heads. Who can give me this overview?

Social Worker: Well it depends on what you're looking for

Me: (thinking: Help with broken things???) Okaaaaay... I'll talk to the Case Management Program A again. I think I spoke to a different case management program last year. They were called Case Management Program B and they had a 4-month waiting list

Social Worker: Oh yes that's Case Management Program B. They have a 4-month waiting list. I'll be sending you to Case Management Program A.

Me: Does Case Management A have a waiting list?

Social Worker: I don't know. You'll have to ask them

Me: What's the difference between the two case management programs?

Social Worker: Well they both offer case management services

Me: Yes? Do they offer any different types of case management services?

Social Worker: Case Management Program B can provide respite services and can get your Mom into adult day care programs. Case Management Program A can only tell you about the programs. They don't have any funding to get you into those programs

Me: So why would I want to go to Case Management Program A if they can't actually get my mom into these programs?

Social Worker: Well Case Management Program B has stricter criteria as to who they let in.

Me: . I guess that's why they have a 4 month waiting list. So once I start with one of the case management programs, can I switch? Could I start with Case Management Program A because they don't have a waiting list and then switch over to Case Management Program B once I get in?

Social Worker: You can switch but you can only pick one to apply to at a time

Me: So I either apply to one with a 4-month waiting list, wait for 4 months to find out if Mom qualifies. Or apply to one right away that is easier to get into but that doesn't provide that many services. But I cannot apply to both at the same time?

Social Worker: Yes.

Me: Who do I go to to switch? Do I contact you?

Social Worker: Well if you wanted to switch to Case Management Program A, then yes you would have to go through me first. But I think you can switch to Case Management Program B without going to me first. You'll have to ask them.