
Help Mama's Safe Transition to Medicaid
Donation protected
Could you please help with my Mama's long-term Medicaid transition? I've recently come home to Hawaii to find my mother in terrible condition. My father told the hospital that he'd look after and care for my mother, but he hasn't been. Mama needs meds on a regular basis to help control her BPD & heart failure. Amongst other things, she also has scoliosis and agoraphobia. She's had several strokes that have gone unnoticed by my father. My mother is incontinent, and my father limits her food & water so he doesn't have to change her diapers as often. He has literally starved her. She's emaciated, and the hospital questions her nutrition. My father takes what little bit of social security & disability that she has. He's recently started drinking again and has admitted to hitting her with a cane when she has a BPD episode. He keeps her in bed and won't allow her to get up or move around, no exercise or strength building whatsoever. If she falls on the floor, he'll leave her there for days—not calling 911. He'll find a random person in their apartment complex to pick her up when he sees fit. Mama can be very sweet and will say she's okay when she's clearly not. She hasn't been to the doctor in several years, and she's lost cognitive ability due to the lack of necessary medications. I've recently started a case with Adult Protective Services, and they agree that she shouldn't be returned to my father as he proves to be an unfit caretaker. I'm in the process of finding a safe bed for my mother. I was told that her cognitive ability may never return, though I'm praying that with proper care and medication, she'll come back a little? Scott Gardner & Co has helped me with Mama's long-term Medicaid application. They said it will take three months to come through. Within that time, she'll be placed in a temp rehabilitation clinic as soon as they have a bed. There could be one to two months that she won't have coverage. I don't make enough to financially support her transition on my own. I'm humbly asking the community to help with any support in this transition. I can't afford to move back to Hawaii to become her caretaker. Mom is technically homeless as we need to keep her away from my father. I've begged her for many years to move to the mainland to be closer to me so I could look after her. She's always refused; her love of Hawaii has made her never want to leave. I'm doing my best to fight this overwhelming battle.
Organizer
Jennifer Batulanon
Organizer
Pittsburgh, PA