How can individuals who cannot remain at home safely, and are not candidates or do not meet the medical requirements for nursing home care find a proper place to live in the society? Of course they can enter a private assisted living and spend their life savings on room and board until they deplete all of their life savings – and then what do they do?
One possibility, before spending their life savings, is to protect all of their resources and enter a Medicaid-funded assisted living residence. Approximately 40 counties of the 62 in New York State have such places. Applicants are required to have Community Medicaid prior to admission. Should the applicant have any surplus income (the income above what Medicaid allows), they can protect the surplus income with a Medicaid approved pooled income trust. Residents at a Medicaid-funded assisted living are treated with dignity, can come and go as they please, enjoy the many programs each facility offers, and most importantly socialize with other residents who share similar issues and interest.
A Medicaid-funded Assisted Living ALP allows the resident to protect their life savings, their surplus income and still enjoy the comfort, dignity, surroundings, care, and socialization as if they lived in their own home.