Moving back home is usually no longer an option once you enter a nursing home. If your condition improves to the degree where you no longer require nursing home care, you may find that moving back home isn’t as cut and dry as you expected. You practically are starting over. You have to search for a place to live. You have to find a good home care provider. You may need to open a checking, savings or some other type of account. Depending on where you live, you may qualify for assistance with making the transition from nursing home to your own home a smooth one.
The “Money Follows the Person” program was established by Congress in 2005. The program was designed for nursing home residents who want to move back home but need assistance to live on their own and regain their independence. Qualifying residents receive financial and personal support to help them live on their own or in a group setting.
Currently, 29 states and the District of Columbia participate in the program. Federal funding for the program was extended until 2016 under the new health reform law. The length of time a resident must reside in a nursing home in order to qualify has also been reduced from 180 days to 90 days. Contact your Area Agency on Aging to find out if your state participates in the Money Follows the Person program and to get information on eligibility requirements.
