She's also started to talk like she was in the past. She asked what we were going to make for the turkey dinner that night when my Uncle Tommy got there. That broke my heart, because I didn't want to have to say there wasn't going to be a turkey dinner tonight. However, it also made me realize that she might really want a turkey dinner, so I'm going to do that for her this weekend, and bring it to her, even though she probably won't eat it because she'll think it's poisoned.
I'm about ready to apply for her Medicaid. Right now her stay in rehab is covered by Medicare and her secondary insurance. I'm not sure she will qualify for Medicaid, even though her only income is social security. While she's been in rehab for the last few months, her bank account has pretty much remained untouched except for her BCBS premiums, so she's got some money saved up. I also learned that her internment next to my father is paid for, although the funeral isn't. Since she didn't really have any friends, her funeral will probably be just a few members of our family.
Okay, I don't want to think about that stuff right now.
So...everyone is talking about this new Netflix show called "Stranger Things." I've watched four episodes with Joe, who loves that show. It's kind of a combination of horror, drama, mystery, and mom-who-will-do-anything-to save-her-kid thing.
Although I'm weirdly compelled to watch more, I'm not sure what the appeal is. It's set in the 80's, and the writers did an excellent job of flooding our senses with all things 80's, from Dungeons and Dragons to rotary telephones, to The Smiths. The idea of this monster that mutilates some people and kidnaps others mystifies me. To me, only having watched four episodes so far, it appears to grab people from our dimension and take them to an alternate, much darker one. I don't know why it does this for some, but just flat out kills some others, like the yellow chem suited guy who went willingly into it's lair attached to a heavy steel cable, and returned as a bloody pelvis.
So, if a full grown adult can't evade this faceless thing, how can these kidnapped kids remain alive for such a long time in it's lair, and evade it's capture when it's literally breathing down their necks?
I'm having a hard time grasping that. Lol. And during the first few episodes, there was a lot of dialogue that makes editors cringe. The info dump. Too much exposition revealed in dialogue solely for the purpose of giving information to the viewer. In other words, unrealistic dialogue.
The campy horror scenes only bothered me a little, as I recognized the writers were trying to incorporate an 80's-type theme, and many movies from the 80's were campy. Like the car hesitating to start at the time it really needs to start. Lol.
The character I really like is Eleven. That little girl is a good actress. The emotion she conveys with just her eyes and mouth is very believable, and powerful. And it's pretty cool she has those "wizard" superpowers. The reaction of the toothless kid to her powers is classic.
Anyway, the reviews of this show are all gooey good, so I'm excited to see how it ends.
Time to get ready for a short work day. I'm going to paint this weekend. I am going to paint this weekend. I am going to paint this weekend. There. I've said it three times, so it will happen. :)
Hi Mindy,
I was anxious to check your blog today to see how your mom is doing. Sounds like she's doing a little better and that's a relief. I think its great that she can be around your SIL and get good care, plus everyone needs a break so that should help you some too. Medicare will usually pay the entire first 120 days, but only if you fill out the form saying she is planning to return home, so make sure it was done that way and try to correct it if its not. This is VERY IMPORTANT and I'll explain why in a second. Also, you may want to talk to an elder/estate lawyer about this situation. Your finances are certainly none of my business and I don't want to know, but you should be aware that Medicaid will try to come after anything they had to pay the home above and beyond what medicare pays of after that runs out.
ie, If the home is - say $2,000/mo - and her SS income is - lets say $1,500/mo - there is a $500 deficit, which Medicare will pay, but look to recover from her estate if and when she passes. Now, there is a thing called a caregiver's exception where she can compensate you, or anyone else, for care given at home that kept her out of a nursing home for at least 2 years prior to her entering it. This can also include a house as payment. Normally you have to live with her for this, but there are exceptions and a lawyer can explain those and how to work it all. Talking to one about this should not cost anything and you will need one. This is called "THE CAREGIVER'S EXCEPTION". If you don't check this out you could lose her entire estate to Medicaid unless she specifically has long term care insurance, which is not normal medicare! The home will not help you with this and will just hit you with a big bill afterwards. If you have an estate in place and advice, you can sometimes simply declare the estate insolvent and walk away without having to pay, or at least with something left over, like the house. Otherwise the government will brutally take all your mom's money when she's gone. I know this is a lot to take in, but talk to an attorney for your own sake as soon as you have a minute.
Also, if you signed her admission papers you may be responsible for her bills, which as I said will not surface until after she's gone, so be careful!
I hope all goes well, and as I said if you need anything don't hesitate to contact my on Facebook. It's the least I can do for all the effort you put in to helping people get started in the Chase, even though I am not really started at all, but that's not the point. The point is that you're a very kind person and put a lot of work in to this Chase. I've just been reading until now because I had nothing to contribute. I just admire your work.
Funny how this thing brings people together in strange ways and we have Fenn to thank for that. :)
-Rick