Challenges of Moving Parent from an Out-of-State Facility

The last thing you want is to be in another state when your parent falls or has a medical emergency. Moving your parents from an out-of-state long-term care facility to a nursing home or other facility closer to you is a viable option for keeping your elderly parents within reach for frequent visits and better care.  

There are a few necessary steps when looking into ways to move your parents from an out-of-state nursing home.  

Selecting a New LTC Facility  

Before making a move, pick out a few nursing homes you and your parent/parents are interested in and start your research. Use online resources to check the reviews on each facility; then, visit the location in person to scope out contenders before you move your parents. Note, sometimes visiting in person may be limited due to COVID-19 protocols. Many facilities are setting up virtual tours when there is limited ability to see the facility in person.

If your parent is paying for the facility out of savings and income or owns Long-Term Care Insurance, you will also want to look at the various facilities' costs. You can get an idea of the average cost of care by using the LTC NEWS Cost of Care Calculator.  

Apply to the Facilities  

If your parents currently live in another nursing home or long-term care facility, you will want the admissions staff to share a Patient Review Instrument (PRI). A PRI is a medical assessment tool that summarizes a patient's condition and needs.  

The desired facility will evaluate your parent's needs and determine if it can fulfill them. If there is space available and the needs can be met, your parent/parents will be accepted.  

Moving to a New State Affects Medicaid Eligibility

The cost of long-term care facilities often drains savings. Some people have not prepared and have little available resources. Medicaid will pay for nursing homes in those circumstances. If your parents are using Medicaid instead of Long-Term Care Insurance or private pay, no one person can be eligible for Medicaid in two states at the same time. Your parent/parents must close out their Medicaid coverage in one state before applying to another.  

Understand Medicaid Residency Requirements  

Once your parents are in the new nursing facility, they can apply for that state's Medicaid program. Your parents are eligible for Medicaid immediately upon moving to a new state. Medicaid acceptance might take as long as 90 days, but coverage is retroactive to its application date. This means the nursing home cannot turn you down if your Medicaid registration is still pending.  

Making the Move

The last step in the process is to make a move. Moving out of state can be a complicated process, but with plenty of planning and coordination between nursing homes, the move can happen with ease. Make plans for your parents to be escorted to their new nursing home with the help of a facility employee or make the trip with them yourself.  

When researching ways to move your parents to an out-of-state nursing home, prepare for these essential steps in the process.