What are you going to do when you can no longer live alone?

Sunny said:
Good summary of Medicare, Butterfly! That whole "mandatory nurse" thing sounds hokey to me. And from some of the answers in this thread, I think some people are confused as to the difference between Medicare and private insurance.
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Strongly agree.
peppermint said:
Medicare" never calls people. It is a government agency and NEVER calls people about their medical care.

I don't agree with this statement....I am on Medicare...They called me a while ago to see If they can
have a Nurse to come to my house....She came today....A lovely Nurse....She said they are doing this for
Medicare patients to keep up with their Prescriptions and I do have a Doctor.....Which I was at the Doctor last week....
She also talked to my husband that has the same Medicare....She told us she is not with our medicare,
the medicare have Nurse's to help or just talk to Medicare patients....She asked for my identifications...
To make sure I was the person on the Medicare....Everything was in order....She told me if I would like
to have a Nurse to come next year at this time....Of course I laughed and said," of course" "If I'm still alive" She gave us very good suggestions.....
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Regardless of what they told you, these nurses were not from Medicare, which is a federal program. They may have been from another insurance company, or a medicare advantage program, but they were not sent by federal Medicare.

There is only one Medicare. There is not "your Medicare" or "his Medicare." Medicare does NOT send nurses or anybody else out to talk to patients. Call Medicare at their 800 number and ask them if they do. 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

You probably have a Medicare Advantage plan which may have arranged such a visit. There is a difference between Medicare itself and a Medicare Advantage plan.
 

Butterfly said:
Strongly agree.


Regardless of what they told you, these nurses were not from Medicare, which is a federal program. They may have been from another insurance company, or a medicare advantage program, but they were not sent by federal Medicare.

There is only one Medicare. There is not "your Medicare" or "his Medicare." Medicare does NOT send nurses or anybody else out to talk to patients. Call Medicare at their 800 number and ask them if they do. 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

You probably have a Medicare Advantage plan which may have arranged such a visit. There is a difference between Medicare itself and a Medicare Advantage plan.
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Keep telling people that, Butterfly. Its like every fall, when the "open enrollment" starts again for the advantage programs, the ads start "chumming " the seniors and they get confused again. Don't think it should be legal to say they are "medicare" unless its Medicare (with the capitol M). Sigh.
 
Butterfly said:
Strongly agree.


Regardless of what they told you, these nurses were not from Medicare, which is a federal program. They may have been from another insurance company, or a medicare advantage program, but they were not sent by federal Medicare.

There is only one Medicare. There is not "your Medicare" or "his Medicare." Medicare does NOT send nurses or anybody else out to talk to patients. Call Medicare at their 800 number and ask them if they do. 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

You probably have a Medicare Advantage plan which may have arranged such a visit. There is a difference between Medicare itself and a Medicare Advantage plan.
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You are right, the Nurse was working for Medicare...We are now on a different plan....And a Nurse came to my house yesterday and she will come again for my husband in December....We don't have to pay for the plan....But when we did have Medicare, my husband had nurses when he came
home from the Hospital....NO CHARGE...…………. I don't lie....
 

Peppermint, I assume the "grumpy" designation was aimed at me.

I simply strongly believe that we all should know precisely what our medical carriers are, what they will and not do, and what we can expect. Otherwise we can be targets for fraud, identity theft, and possibly much worse. I believe it is incumbent on all of us to protect ourselves from such threats by being prudent and aware of the things we can do to protect ourselves.

And no, I do not "no" everything, but because of my work background I know a good bit about Medicare.

And BTW, having home healthcare nurses visit after a hospital stay (this is often prescribed by your physician) is a whole different kettle of fish than random nurses from an advantage plan showing up at your home absent medical need to "help" you manage.
 
Butterfly said:
Peppermint, I assume the "grumpy" designation was aimed at me.

I simply strongly believe that we all should know precisely what our medical carriers are, what they will and not do, and what we can expect. Otherwise we can be targets for fraud, identity theft, and possibly much worse. I believe it is incumbent on all of us to protect ourselves from such threats by being prudent and aware of the things we can do to protect ourselves.

And no, I do not "no" everything, but because of my work background I know a good bit about Medicare.

And BTW, having home healthcare nurses visit after a hospital stay (this is often prescribed by your physician) is a whole different kettle of fish than random nurses from an advantage plan showing up at your home absent medical need to "help" you manage.
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Aetna is our new healthcare....It started in January 2019.....They called on the phone many times and I didn't want them to come to my home at
that time….They called again and I had the Nurse come to our home....It wasn't a big deal....We don't pay for the Nurses.....It's something they are
doing now in New Jersey, Aetna....They are coming again for my husband....Yes, when we had Nurses when husband came home from the Hospital and
the nurse's helped my husband....For twice a week for 2 weeks....My granddaughter took over when they left...She is a Nurse....
Then Aetna took over our healthcare....I'm fortunate I worked in a School System.....I did my 25 years....So we take whatever they give us....
 
Lvstotrvl said:
Suzy, I don’t understand why Medicare n his insurance wouldn’t help with your dad? Have you thought about Hospice, I had to call them when my hubby was dying last year, I really needed help because I was going to keep him home with me. Medicare n his insurance paid for everything n not once did they ask about my financial affairs.
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Medicare can help with home hospice. They did it for my sister and then for my mother before they died. Right now I can handle daddy but I know he will get worse as the days go buy. Memory Care is a live-in facility and, from what I understand, costs a few thousand dollars a month.

Please let me know if I am wrong.
 
Suzy623 said:
Medicare can help with home hospice. They did it for my sister and then for my mother before they died. Right now I can handle daddy but I know he will get worse as the days go buy. Memory Care is a live-in facility and, from what I understand, costs a few thousand dollars a month.

Please let me know if I am wrong.
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Suzy, Hospice has a facility as well, when you find things are more than you can handle. Medicare will pay for that too, please look into this, being a caretaker is hard enough without having to worry about what’s next! Good luck ❤️
 
peppermint said:
I hope some can understand what I will write....I got a phone call from my Medicare....Very lovely lady....It wasn't the first time they called me.. The 2 times they called we were going out of town....So this time I gave in and told them yes....
A nurse will be coming to my home...Really!!!! I was just to my Doctor last week and I am fine!!!! So I got the phone call
today to tell me what time the Nurse is coming to my home....I will have to show her my meds....Now come on, they know
what meds I have!!!! I only went to the Doctor this year and not that I was sick...This new Medicare just came out this year....It seems our other Medicare shipped out....I was a Secretary for a School System....I did my 25 years....Then we get
the report the old Medicare were changing....I had to take it or else it would be more expensive if I dropped my old Medicare....So I googled some of this stuff....This new Medicare in my State (Medicare for Teacher's and Staff) can't change or else we would be getting a new Medicare system from a different source.....And much more money....

So to make this a little short.....It seems people were having adults or children in their home that didn't have Medicare...
They would bring kids to the doctor and put it on their Medicare....So this Medicare cracked down on those losers....
I won't say what Medicare company it is....But it really is OK for them to see our home and who lives in the house....Who
it's me and hubby....I have a neat lovely home....And they know what Meds and my husband's med are....So this is what
we have to do when people cheat...…
This is not saying I don't like Nurses....My husband had 2 weeks of Nurses when he came home from the Hospital...
They were lovely ladies....
I'm just asking if anyone ever had nurses/doctor's come to your home when you didn't call for....When I have my Doctor in our town for many, many years.....
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My Daughter is an Pediatric RN and was offered a job to go to children's homes to help take care of them. She did it for a few weeks and then was offered a job as a school nurse where her daughter attends. She took the school nurse job to be near her daughter. She did enjoy taking care of the children at their homes ,but would rather be with her daughter. I think it's wonderful to be able to have a nurse come to your house.
 
Pepper said:
What did you do in a school system? A teacher? Secretary? Para? Just curious. Nice to work in a school. Like schools.
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Hi! I worked in a school system for 25 years...I was a Secretary in the High School Office....with 3 other ladies....My 2 children also
graduated from the same High School....I lived 4 miles from the school....Before working in the High School, I worked part time in
various stores when my children were in elementary school....We were in Ohio at the time, then came back to our State...And are still
here....Thanks for being curious....
 
Sassycakes said:
My Daughter is an Pediatric RN and was offered a job to go to children's homes to help take care of them. She did it for a few weeks and then was offered a job as a school nurse where her daughter attends. She took the school nurse job to be near her daughter. She did enjoy taking care of the children at their homes ,but would rather be with her daughter. I think it's wonderful to be able to have a nurse come to your house.
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Thank you, Sassy....
 
Lvstotrvl said:
Suzy, Hospice has a facility as well, when you find things are more than you can handle. Medicare will pay for that too, please look into this, being a caretaker is hard enough without having to worry about what’s next! Good luck ❤
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I may have to address that in time. I guess I'm only familiar with home hospice and with the hospital hospice. I'll check into it. Several years my daddy had a stroke and was in rehab for a couple of months. Thinking back, I believe there was a nursing home and hospice center in there as well. But daddy will more than likely need memory care at some point because of his Alzheimer's. Don't think this particular center had Memory Care.

Thanks for the lead, though. And thanks for the encouragement.
 
Has anyone considered/completed home renovations or modifications to help you stay in your own home longer on your own? There are many things that seem to be useful like walk in showers, grab bars, wider doorways, and even some cool technology that can help a lot. Curious to know your experiences?
 
I have the grab bars and the handles for the toilets; got those when my sister and mother were living. Also have rollator, walker, cane, wheelchair, shower seats. My plan is to replace the tub/shower with a walk in shower unit once things settle down a bit. There's a walk in shower in my daddy's bathroom but I want the one in the main bath replaced. Don't anticipate widening doors but I've found out that things happen so, even though I don't plan on doing it, it may be a necessity at some point.

My Echo dot (Alexa) will come in handy for emergencies. I just need to set it up! LOL! I've even got the light bulbs for it. Just keep procrastinating on it.
 
I live in senior housing, which is individual apartments. Many of the residents are disabled and have lived here for years. Two ladies, who could not live alone if they were in their own houses, but do very well here. They are both about 95 or so and have lived here for over 20 years. One lady's daughter and son-in-law live in their own apartment and they help her. The other lady goes out almost daily. I wake up at five in the morning to hear her vacuuming the hall in front of her apartment.

Some people here have personal aides who come to help them do cleaning or other chores. Our local Office for the Aging arranges whatever services or resources needed to help you stay in your own home. It is easier living in place like this due to everything is set up for mobility issues. A bus comes right to our door and is only fifty cents with your Medicare card. Right now my only hardship is transportation but I plan on learning how to use the bus system and take a cab a few times, just to know it is available. My bf comes from his house and takes me wherever I need to go. But some day, he might not be there.
 

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