This past weekend I attended a local writer’s retreat at Great Mountain Forest. Retreats like this provide the external motivation to supplement one’s own. Being local allowed me to risk signing up months ago, hoping I could attend even if coverage issues for Cindy occurred when the time came. I have some good and bad news to report from attending the retreat.
At the start of the year I resolved to focus more on our backstory, but so far fell short of that goal. The retreat gave me new inspiration and new ideas for that to happen. One presentation explored the connections to be made with person and place. I did a little of this in the past; I now have motivation to do more.
Coverage issues indeed came up. I brought Cindy to the retreat one afternoon in the used Honda Fit I purchased in June. Transporting Cindy and her adult stroller proved easier than loading them into a SUV or minivan. This opens up the likelihood of going other places when coverage becomes an issue, which may become often.
I may not receive any more state funding that helps me keep Cindy at home, depending on the results of a hearing. For over a decade a case worker at Connecticut Community Care, Inc helped file the paperwork with the Department of Social Services to secure this funding. As Cindy’s conservator I signed the documents every year as requested.
This year DSS responded to the filing with asking for Cindy’s signature. I told them she could not do that. They asked for proof of conservatorship and sent follow up documents to sign. I sent the probate stamped documents as requested, to multiple recipients just in case. The next time I heard from DSS was on 8/5, with a notice of action that we were rejected as of 8/1, based on no documents being received or processed.
Despite having signed their documents for over a decade, my only recourse now appears to be a hearing. If I continue getting coverage until the hearing and lose, I will be responsible for the present and future coverage costs. This practically means stopping coverage, perhaps even before the hearing.
I am a hard person to bring down though. Coverage for the past decade obviously required that we stayed at home. Since the Honda Fit allows easier transport of Cindy, potential opportunities open up for us. Maybe we start taking overnight trips to family and friends. Maybe I can go on the road with presentations for humanity with no coverage constraints. Or maybe Cindy and I go on another journey!
I know that going on a journey with Cindy at this point sounds impractical. Maybe so, but the possibility puts me into a win-win frame of mind. The dreamer/planner in me can accept losing the hearing, since this opens up the opportunity for us to journey together once more. Meanwhile, the realist/fatalist in me since becoming a care partner applies superstition to my advantage. By wanting to go on another journey the fates will make sure I win the hearing and prevent that from happening.
What do you think should happen? How would you like two visitors to drop by while on a journey?
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Kirk,
Since I am local, I don’t expect you two showing up for a visit, but seeing you and Cindy at a wonderful park as a meet up to enjoy the sunshine and company is always welcomed.
As far as the hearing goes, I hope that you do win your case, because being a caregiver 24/7 would surely bring challenges that the two of you don’t need. The two of you will be in my prayers.
Tammy
Hey, I am not surprised you are having this hurdle to climb over. Since the latest administration has changed things, those who use government funded programs have to do many more things to prove their “worthiness” or whatever. I think the hope is that many people will either be knocked off the rolls by more stringent regs, or will give up because there are so many hoops to jump through. My response, besides rage, is to use that rage to give me energy to fight.
I hope you do get approved, and I am guessing you will. Even if you win your case and get in-home help, you can still travel for a couple days at a time, I think, though maybe what you want is a longer trip.
Take care of yourself and Cindy. Many hugs
I hope you win your case. I vehemently detest the whole medical support-cutting trend going on right now, for the ones who need it most. We love visitors! We don’t have a guest room and have to pass through our living room at night, but we would search for space if you stayed over.