COPES: The Washington State Medicaid Program can help a Senior Fund Long Term Care.
Current trends in Long Term care provides a staggering representation of the cost for seniors. Although we all have good intentions to never need government assistance in our aging years, studies show the overwhelming amount of seniors who rely on assistance, either from Medic are or Medicaid.
Having this knowledge can help you in anticipating long term care costs. It also will help you to make financial decisions called a “spend down” to qualify your loved one easily for Medicaid, if that time ever comes.
Washington State’s COPES program benefits thousands of seniors. COPES stands for the Community Options Program Entry System. COPES, for short, is a Washington State Medicaid (Apple Health) waiver program designed to enable individuals who require nursing home level care, to receive that care in their home or alternative care environment, such as an assisted living residence. This home and community-based services program provides not only care, but also other supports to enable a successful transition to independent living or assisted living. These supports include coverage for home modifications to increase the resident’s safety and access, personal emergency response services to reduce supervision, and transportation assistance to get to medical appointments and for other errands.
To be eligible, applicants must be at least 65 years of age, or be disabled and between the ages of 18 and 64, and require assistance of two or more Activities of Daily Living, such as bathing, toileting, or dressing. They also must be financially qualified, and it is a complicated process to review a couple’s or individual’s income, bank accounts, investments, and properties.
It is best to have an Elder Law attorney evaluate your senior’s assets and to assist them in qualifying financially for COPES. In addition, be aware, that Washington State has a five-year look back period, which means that ANY asset transfers that happened, such as cash, property or assets may restrict a senior from qualifying for benefits.
Individuals approved for COPES can receive any of the following services, providing that they are pre-approved to receive it:
- Adult Day Care / Adult Day Health Care
- Assisted Living / Adult Family Homes
- Case Management
- Community Choice Guiding
- Community Support: Goods and Services
- Durable Medical Equipment
- Environmental Accessibility Modifications to one’s Home or Vehicle
- Home Care / Home Health Care / Skilled Nursing
- Home Delivered Meals
- Personal Emergency Response Services
- Non-Medical Transportation Assistance
- Wellness Education
To learn more about how to qualify, we recommend that you contact a qualified Elder Law attorney and discuss options long before you need these types of benefits. It’s easier and less stress for everyone knowing what to do up front, to provide the best level of care in the future.
