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Department of Human Services

www.state.ar.us/dhs/
800-482-8988Care Link (Area Agencies on Aging)
800-482-6359AARP

http://www.aarp.org/
800-424-3410If you’ve worked more years than you care to think about. If you don’t have as much to show for it as you thought you would. And, if you’re not as young as you’d like for people to think you are. You probably have not planned as well as you should have for retirement, and among other things, the possibility that you might have to go into a nursing home.

How to Apply: Apply at the County Department of Human Services Office in the country where the nursing home is located. Form EMS-777 must be completed to determine financial eligibility.Who is Eligible: A person must meet the medical need for nursing home care as determined by the Office of Long Term Care. (Guidelines change in January 2001.)

This program is subject to Estate Recovery provisions upon death of the client.Income: $1,536 per month; or establish a Miller Income Trust for excess income. All income goes into the trust and all expenses are paid out of it with the understanding that any overage can be recouped by DHS at death of individual. Forms for you to fill in the blanks for this trust are available from DHS and their attorneys can approve it.

Resources: $2,000 (Exclusions are your home, one car, definite burial expenses)Irrevocable trusts may be excluded. This triggers a period of disqualification, which is 60 months ( 5 years.) Asset transfer has a “look back” feature of 36 months (3 years.)

Allowances for spouses of nursing home residents:If a nursing home resident qualifies for Medicaid assistance, some of his or her income may be used to support a spouse living in the community. Details about this can be obtained from your County DHS Office. However, some community spouses may be better off rejecting an allowance from their spouse, so they will not lose their Medicaid eligibility.

Money Magic action by you: Go in and set up an inquiry interview; talk to case worker. It takes 45 days to process your application, and the first month of care must be paid by you.

The cost of long-term care at home, in an extended care facility, or in a nursing home is rarely covered by medical insurance or Medicare.

The three ways to pay for such care are private payments, Long-term Care Insurance, or Medicaid. Medicaid is a “welfare” program for people with limited income and resources.