Impact of COVID-19 Stimulus Check on Property Tax and Rent Rebates for Older Adults and Residents With Disabilities on Medicaid.

For most of us, the prospect of money appearing in our bank account is a welcome gift. However, if our loved one is on Medicaid could be cause for concern. How can this money be used? Will it result in our parent losing benefits? Should I you give the money to the nursing home? With the first stimulus, there were many questions regarding how this money could be used, but we now have a clearer picture. First, facilities have no right to this money. It is not considered income for public benefit purposes and will not be treated as a resource if it is spent within one year of receipt. So here are five ideas for how to use the stimulus check received by your loved one on Medicaid.

​It has become more common than not that retirees over 65 have parents that are still living independently, but are they at risk? What if they were to fall or a sudden illness meant they could no longer maintain their current lifestyle, and there now senior-aged children do not live close by? Or their children have health concerns of their own. Are both you and your parents at risk?

​Should I Consent to My Ward/Loved One Getting Vaccinated?
Keep in mind that you are obligated to consult your ward and apply the substituted judgment standard; that means making the decision based on their previously expressed wishes and values, not what you or their physician thinks is best for them. If your ward is capable of being involved in the decision-making process, then you must consult with them and give them a simple explanation regarding the risks and benefits. If you are not aware of your ward’s wishes regarding vaccines, you should consider their values and thoughts on medical intervention in general and weigh the risks and benefits of vaccination in light of your ward’s values and their personal situation.