Answers To All The Commonly Asked Questions
US Social Security benefits can make assisted living and nursing home/memory care for seniors with dementia/Alzheimer’s affordable at the Eulice Utton Homes in Jamaica.
Question: Can someone who qualifies for Medicare in the U.S. use this to pay for medical care or prescriptions at the Eulice Utton Homes?
Answer: No. Medicare will not pay for any of this outside of the U.S. However the Eulice Utton includes bi-monthly doctor’s visit in the resident’s fees. Most medications cost much less in Jamaica than in the U.S. and the Eulice Utton Homes have arrangements with a local pharmacy and might be able to negotiate even better packages.
Question: Is The Eulice Utton Homes experienced in managing this option?
Answer: Yes. The Eulice Utton Homes has a history of being involved with representative payees for payment of fees using this option. They would be happy also to arrange for transportation to and from the airport in Jamaica and accommodation for accompanying relatives/friends if they are asked to do so.
Question: Do I need to obtain legal guardianship of a parent with dementia, including Alzheimer’s in order to manage their Social Security income to pay for their assisted living or nursing home at the Eulice Utton Homes?
Answer: No. There is usually no need to undertake the expense of obtaining legal guardianship. The Social Security office handling a claimant’s case can decide that a benefit payee (representative payee) is required even when there is no legal guardian or power of attorney. Social Security Administration (SSA) will appoint a representative to receive disability cheques if the recipient is mentally incapacitated. This person, or organization, is called a representative payee.
Question: Can U.S. Social Security income cover the cost of assisted living/memory care at the Eulice Utton Homes?
Answer: Yes. If the recipient worked for at least 10 years in the U.S. and the benefit is about U.S. $1250. Eulice Utton Homes in beautiful Mandeville, Jamaica, costs less than this. The Eulice Utton Homes is an excellent nursing home/memory care facility. This makes it an attractive option for returning residents and others who may not be able to afford assisted living costs in the U.S. which runs as much as $3000 per month for comparable facilities and averages about U.S. $5000 per month for bed ridden patients.
Question: Do I need to obtain legal guardianship of a parent with dementia, including Alzheimer’s in order to manage their Social Security income to pay for their assisted living or nursing home at the Eulice Utton Homes?
Answer: No. There is usually no need to undertake the expense of obtaining legal guardianship. The Social Security office handling a claimant’s case can decide that a benefit payee (representative payee) is required even when there is no legal guardian or power of attorney. Social Security Administration (SSA) will appoint a representative to receive disability cheques if the recipient is mentally incapacitated. This person, or organization, is called a representative payee.
In one example, the beneficiary suffers from Alzheimer’s. Although she could provide basic self-care, the claimant frequently suffered bouts of confusion and experienced increasing difficulty organizing and paying her bills on time. The claimant’s judgment was also affected and she frequently misused money and failed to pay for basic needs. Because of these symptoms, the SSA determined it was in her best interest to assign the claimant a representative payee.
Question: How Does the SSA Decide Who will be the Representative Payee?
Answer: In determining that a person with Dementia/Alzheimer’s requires a representative payee, the SSA needs a letter from the patient’s treating physician or psychiatrist that states he or she believes the patient cannot take care of their finances. When deciding on whom to appoint as the representative payee, the SSA will look first at whether the recipient lives with someone who helps takes care of them. If they do not, the SSA may choose a family member, friend, legal guardian, or a lawyer.
The goal of the SSA is to select someone who knows the recipient well, sees them frequently, is familiar with their needs and wants and can demonstrate that they would not themselves be dependent on the SS funds. If none of these options are available, the SSA may select an organization that specializes in handling Social Security benefits for people. Or, if the recipient lives in a nursing home the facility may receive the benefits to pay for care.
This Q&A; was prepared by the Daughter of one of Eulice Utton Home’s Residents who has used the processes described above and refers to material provided by SSA.