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When to Leave a Nursing Home and Move Back Home

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When to Leave a Nursing Home and Move Back Home

April 8, 2022
Geoff Hoatson

Leaving a nursing home to return home is a goal for many residents and their families, but it requires careful consideration. While returning home is a good move for some, it won't work for everyone.

A nursing home stay does not have to be permanent. Many residents enter a facility temporarily to recover from an illness or accident and can easily transition back to living at home. Moving out of a nursing home is more complicated for residents who continue to need care but would rather be at home.

Before considering moving out of a nursing home, here are some questions to bear in mind:

  • Can you receive the care you need at home? Some patients require help with eating, dressing, and going to the bathroom. You need to consider whether you can adequately get that care at home.
  • Who will be providing the care? The care can come from family members or hiring in-home health care. If family members aren’t available, is there money to hire help? All 50 states have Medicaid programs that offer at least some home care. You will need to check with your state to see if you qualify.
  • Will you be able to take the medications you need at home?
  • How is your physical and emotional stamina? Moving back home requires determination and an ability to manage problems since not everything will be taken care of as in a facility.
  • Is the house set up to safely accommodate you? Are there a lot of stairs? Does the bathroom have rails? If the patient has dementia, there may be other considerations to take into account.
  • Is there transportation available to get to doctors or other appointments?

If you determine that moving back home is the best option, then you can begin to craft a plan based on where you will live and who will provide care. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging to get help finding and coordinating services.

There is a federal program called Money Follows the Person that is designed to make it easier for nursing home residents who qualify for Medicaid to move out. Currently, 34 states and the District of Columbia participate in the program, which provides personal and financial support to help eligible nursing home residents live on their own or in group settings.

For tips on transitioning from a nursing home to the community, give our office a call at (407) 574-8125 or email our team at [email protected].

Copyright © 2024. Family First Firm - Medicaid & Elder Law Attorneys. All rights reserved.
The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.
Family First Firm – Medicaid & Elder Law Attorneys
(407) 574-8125
https://www.familyfirstfirm.com
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