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My spouse needs more care than I can give

Options that keep a couple together, and the spousal protections Medicaid provides.

Quick answer

Options that keep a couple together, and the spousal protections Medicaid provides.

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Home›By Situation›My spouse needs more care than I can give

Caring for a spouse is different from caring for a parent, financially and otherwise. Ohio's spousal impoverishment protections shield a set amount of the couple's income and assets for the spouse who stays home when the other needs Medicaid-covered care.

Short answer

Options that keep a couple together, and the spousal protections Medicaid provides.

What to do, in order

  1. Understand the spousal protections. Ohio's Community Spouse Resource Allowance and Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance figures change annually -- confirm current amounts with the Council on Aging or an elder law attorney before making decisions.
  2. Look at communities that keep couples together. Several campuses offer more than one level of care on one site.
  3. Be honest about your own health. Spousal caregivers routinely under-report their own decline.
  4. Get an objective assessment. The Area Agency on Aging serving your county can assess both of you at no cost.

Questions families ask

Which hospital systems serve the Cincinnati area for senior discharge planning?

TriHealth (Good Samaritan, Bethesda North), UC Health (University of Cincinnati Medical Center, West Chester Hospital), Bon Secours Mercy Health, The Christ Hospital Health Network, and St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Northern Kentucky are the major systems relevant to senior discharge planning across the metro.

Can I push back on a hospital discharge date?

Yes, and it is often less fixed than it initially sounds, particularly when no safe discharge plan exists yet. Ask the case manager directly what specifically needs to be in place before the date can move, and push on that.

What if none of the facilities a hospital referred my parent to have accepted?

Ask the case manager directly which facilities have actually said yes, not just which ones received an inquiry. A referral sent does not mean a bed accepted, and the accepted list is the only one that matters for a real discharge plan.

Not sure where to start?

Answer five questions and a local advisor will come back with senior care options in your area that actually fit your situation and budget. It is free, and there is no obligation.

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