Me (in email to younger brother): I remember your delight when you first read this in your high school text.
His reply: It reminds me of the time, about 40 years ago, when I was walking near dawn in the spring desert / grassland near Richland and two Meadowlarks, one on each side of me (within a few hundred feet), sang simultaneously: hearing two meadowlarks in stereo “May never come together again… This side the tomb."
Ah, the joys of medicaid. DH has been on a medicaid waiver for years (which means that he has qualified for medicaid, but receives services at home). There have been many run-ins with medicaid over the years, like when they randomly decide to cancel all current benefits. One year they notified me of termination because they said I failed to send them the documentation they asked for. I had to go to a hearing, scared to death, and at that hearing the medicaid worker actually produced--in front of the judge and the terrified caregiver spouse--the very documents they said I didn't send them. It wasn't an honest mistake, but rather business as usual when dealing with them. (When I had requested a hearing to contest the decision to terminate benefits, they told me that if I would just cancel the hearing, everything could be worked out. Hmm... I don't think so.)
Every year when recertification time comes around again, I nearly get physically sick from stress. It's not just that they decide for no reason to terminate benefits, but they are so rude and hateful that I try not to talk to them unless it's absolutely required.
The paperwork on my desk right now says they want proof of the amount of each resource (like a checking account) "as of the first moment of the first day of the most recent month". Seriously, who thinks this stuff up? So here we go again...
The problem was after when I first signed up the Medicaid financial worker had done an exception to get the amount reduced. It expires Feb 28th. I took the documents in and he was going to submit them today. He said he wanted utilities so I included propane which I had to tell him is as important or more important than the electric. Haven't heard anything yet.
I know when that yearly time comes around I have to print out the bank statements for the previous three months. They are most interested in the ending balance of each month -can't be more than a $1000. No problem cause there is usually less than 200. Fortunately I keep all records in Quickbooks so I just have to bring up the yearly report for expenses then divide by 12. I have to make sure I make note of the fact only the one checking account has his name on it otherwise they would include all the accounts.
I heard back from the financial worker. The 'exception rule' went through. They reduced it - thought he said $17 which is really low, will find out when the letter arrives. The $70 before was fine.
Visited him yesterday. He was in the recliner and I was sitting on a stool laying back in his lap. I sat up but he pulled me back down. I seem to be allowing more of these tender times now. Not sure why because I come home and start crying.
They hired a young man last week but he failed the background check. Today she hired another guy who is currently working in another facility so has experience and she did the background check on him first. Was told he would be responsible trying to get the men to shower who refuse to let the girls give them showers. Said he was fine with that. He appears to be responsible because he wanted to give his current employer a 2 week notice.
Another sunny day. The nights are still getting down to 30 plus/minus but the days are near 55-65. I am fine with that. It will keep the snow in the mountains from melting too soon or fast.
Unbelievable. I'm sitting here in freezing weather where it's snowed every day for almost a week. It looks like Grumpy Old Men outside.
Hopefully this new guy will have success showering Art and the other men. I'm sorry, but the reason you come home and start crying is because you have feelings. I'm sure that's not helpful.
I guess the reason is: after years without I am missing the human touch, the cuddling, or just holding hands. I thought I was tough and could live without it. The girls think it is cute when we do it.
Today was another one of those days of caregiving that brought me to tears. Then tonight I found this video. I wanted to share it, in case someone else needed it as much as I did. It's entitled "Here's to those of you making the most of a bad situation". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-8QFPnLH4U