She has a nest egg, Social Security and maybe a pension to pay for it. The first few months are great. Maybe the money even holds out for a few years. But in time, the nest egg dwindles.
Needs exceed income.
But Mom is so happy. For many people, the only choice is to move the parent into a nursing home, even if that's not what either of them wants. It's a problem state officials are well aware of, and one they are trying to change. Michigan is working to create a way to use Medicaid dollars to fund a variety of long-term care options through a managed care organization. The organization would get a certain amount of money per participant per month to budget toward that person's health care.