Two reminders from last week’s column since the dates are quickly approaching: Ocean Beach Hospital is sponsoring Heart to Heart, a women’s luncheon and forum on Diabetes and Heart Health, Feb. 13, noon to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $2 and lunch is provided. For more detail, call 642-6306.

Secondly, it’s not too late to sign-up for the Long Term Care Ombudsman training (free) on Feb. 12 and 13, and Feb. 19 and 20. Contact Glory Haga at 800-828-4883, ext. 120.

On to other things. I recently had a conversation with someone who “simply” wanted to know what services were available. After an extended conversation, we were able to narrow the scope of the question – and consequently, the answer. What began as an open-ended question about services became a very specific question about in-home care services and eligibility requirements.

The person looking for the information knew more than they initially thought they did about a possible client who was beginning to experience some physical difficulties. Two avenues toward the same services were discussed, Private Pay and Medicaid In-Home Care programs. Private pay is what it appears to be (which, unfortunately, is not all that common in the social services jungle) – someone who pays for services out of their own pocket. Some folks have the ability (read “money”) to be able to hire an individual or an agency caregiver to provide the services they need in order to remain safely at home.

The Medicaid In-Hope Care programs (COPES, MPC, MNIW – and there’s no reason to memorize these acronyms) either pay for the services or pay with a client’s participation for part of the costs. And, obviously, if someone is paying for the services on their own, the process would be worked out between the client and the caregiver or agency. However, in the event that Medicaid funds are used, an assessment of financial and functional eligibility is required. Financially, a single individual would have to have a monthly income at or below about $1,869 and assets at or below $2,000. Assets in this case equals money in bank accounts, investments, stocks, or other investments, but does not include the home, car and/or the couch. For a couple, the income level is doubled. Assets scoot up quite a bit, also, between $43 and $44,000.

Functional eligibility relates to what’s referred to as assisted daily living tasks or personal care needs. These are the areas where someone requires help and includes bathing, toileting, transfer (getting up, down in/out of bed, etc.), eating, medication management, ambulation and so on.

In the aforementioned conversation, it appeared the individual may meet the Medicaid standard, and so the process began. A call to Home and Community Services (HCS) in Kelso (800-605-7322) will be made to request an assessment. (In north county, it would be Aberdeen HCS at 800-487-0119). And when I say the process “begins” that’s what it is. As it progresses you may be impressed by the amount of paperwork involved – but it isn’t brain surgery and it’s pretty straightforward. Plus when the benefit meets a real need, it can be fantastic.

Services meeting needs – what a concept!