Tag Archives: Grace

7.28.12 30 Days of Grace

     Dad and I have been running our separate races against a 30-day clock since June 27th. We were informed at his last care plan meeting that his last day of Medicare coverage will be today, July 28th. Since that announcement, Dad’s only goal over the last 30 days was to learn how to transfer himself as a double amputee with two artificial legs. That means he has to be able to transport himself from his wheelchair to a toilet, or a shower bench, or a bed and back without someone helping him. If he can do this, then he can return to his assisted living apartment. 

     I had multiple goals over the last 30 days, but the two key goals were:

  • contact a VA attorney to see if Dad is eligible for a pension income based on his service during the Vietnam war era
  • find a skilled nursing facility (SNF) he can afford 

     On Friday, June 29th, I met with the VA attorney to get the pertinent information I needed to determine if Dad would be eligible for benefits. It turns out he doesn’t qualify for the income, but the attorney suggested I explore SNFs that are in smaller towns because they are more affordable, but still provide quality care. His advice resonated with me. I know of several SNFs in rural Kansas towns that have a strong reputation for outstanding care as a SNF. The one he recommended was Parkview in Lockhart, TX. 

     On Sunday, July 1st, I took a drive to Parkview. I showed up unannounced to see how staff would interact with me. I was allowed to walk through a variety of wings and peer into semi-private rooms. I checked out all of the amenities. It was beautiful, spacious, and it had a warmth to it because of the natural light allowed to come into the facility. I knew my Dad would be comfortable here, and the price was right. But my homework wasn’t done as I needed to look at Austin SNFs. 

     On Wednesday, July 4th, I spent three hours calling 35 SNFs to get quotes on room rates. My goal was to come up with a top five list of affordable places that I could visit. Out of 35 calls, only one admissions counselor asked about Dad’s insurance. The counselor got excited when she heard “Tricare”. She said, “I have two patients who are at our facility because Tricare granted them physical therapy once their Medicare coverage ran out.” I got excited because God just revealed another option that was never presented by Dad’s social worker. 

     On Thursday, July 5th, I called Dad’s social worker to relay the Tricare benefit that Dad might be able to obtain. She responded, “I have never heard of this benefit.” (I’m thinking, “I know. God is showing us that.”) She offered to call Tricare to see if this was true, and it was. Tricare will pay 75% of the total daily charge for Dad’s physical therapy, while Dad would be out the remaining 25%. In addition, Dad’s out-of-pocket would be capped at $3,000. He can afford it because the 25% he would have to pay matches almost dollar-for-dollar the amount of credit he is getting each month at the assisted living apartment because he’s not using all of their services. God keeps showing up! 

     On Saturday, July 7th, I visited five Austin SNFs to get the feel of the environment and the interactions between staff and residents. Everyone I met was glad to give me a tour and let me ask questions. It was a tiring day, but productive because my list shrunk to two affordable SNFs to admit Dad if that was our next step. 

     The social worker officially sent in the request to Tricare for 30 days of physical therapy on July 12th. Since then it has been a waiting game. Tricare would only approve physical therapy if Aetna sent a denial letter saying they won’t cover Dad once his Medicare-covered days run out on July 28th. You would think that a simple letter could be faxed or scanned, but Aetna kept dragging their feet. As of Wednesday, July 25th, we still did not have a letter. Aetna’s delay concerned our family, so I called Parkview to find out what they needed to approve Dad as a new resident in case Tricare denied coverage. They gave me a checklist, and I promptly went to the Medical Records department on the 25th, signed a medical release on behalf of Dad at 2pm, and they were to fax the data so I could get an approval from the Lockhart facility. By 4pm that afternoon, the good news came that the Aetna letter arrived, so that got faxed to Tricare so they could make their decision. 

     In the meantime, my brother and I needed a contingency plan to move Dad out of his apartment this weekend in case Tricare denied coverage. Should Gene go ahead and reserve a U-Haul truck for Friday and see if he can take off on Friday to help move Dad? Gene was wondering how confident I was feeling about Tricare approving Dad for coverage, and all I could offer was “I think so.” Gene decided he would wait until Thursday before reserving a U-Haul truck. 

     At noon Thursday, July 26th, I called Parkview to see if they had Dad’s medical records, and they said no. That required a flurry of phone calls between me and Dad’s facility to find out why that hadn’t been done. They said they did fax it, and Parkview said they never got it. So I asked medical records to fax it again at 2:30 that afternoon while the admissions counselor was at their fax machine, and it came through just fine. 

     At 3:30pm Thursday, July 26th, Dad’s rehab team was delighted to call me to let me know that Tricare granted Dad 30 days of physical therapy! After making phone calls to let the family know of the decision, I could only thank God profusely. God delivered a grace gift of 30 more days of physical therapy to enhance Dad’s chances of going back to his assisted living apartment. By Friday morning, July 27th, Parkview gave me the approval to accept Dad in case he needed a SNF. The race against the clock is over. It’s now up to Dad to prove he can transfer by August 27th. Please keep praying for him! 

Blessings,                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Lee Ann

12.7.11 You Do What?

     A year ago my father purchased a foreign currency that is about to be revalued, meaning we had to find a free checking account at a bank that can exchange the currency—and quickly. I suggested a local bank I knew with free checking and a $1 minimum deposit, but when my father looked into transportation, it turned out the service he normally uses doesn’t reach that area. We moved to Plan B. 

     I confirmed that Wells Fargo would exchange the currency, and I called Dad to let him know that we were in business.  I asked him to wait until it was time to exchange the currency, however, and then I’d meet him at the bank and assist him in opening the account and completing the exchange. 

     “What if you’re in Kansas when this happens?” he asked.  “Shouldn’t I have my account open and ready?” 

     “That’s a good point, Dad,” I said. “But let’s wait for this week to play out before we worry about that.” I was fairly certain the currency would be exchanged before I left. 

     Dad considered my suggestion maybe five minutes.  That same day Dad went into overdrive and decided he needed to pursue this ASAP, so he got on his computer and found Wells Fargo himself. He’s had a non-profit account for his ministry there for years.  Instead of lining up transportation to open a checking account, he noticed on the website that he could open an account online, so he proceeded to do so without consulting me. That afternoon I got a phone call stating that he put $150 on his Chase credit card for an opening deposit and $25 for a Savings account. 

     It sounded tame and simple enough at first. But his follow-up email led me to believe we had bigger issues.  He was going to have to set up a draft of $25/month to “keep the account afloat to avoid $10/month fees,” which sent up red flags.  After spending two weeks last spring unhooking over twenty bank drafts tied to his credit cards and his bank account, this was the LAST thing I was going to embrace. “Why isn’t his checking account free?” I thought.  And why was the minimum deposit $150 of all things?”  The account at the other bank only required $1 and was free. 

     My response to his email was firm. “If we don’t have a free checking account,” I wrote, “then it is not serving the purpose for which it was intended. “ I re-emphasized that this Wells Fargo account was only a shell account, and once the currency is exchanged, the dollars will be wired to his brokerage account at Ameriprise, and the Wells Fargo account will be closed.  In the meantime, I would be stopping any drafts of $25/month.  Dad responded to my email with confusion.  “If Wells Fargo can receive and exchange my currency,” he wrote, “who needs Ameriprise?”  (Have I mentioned that Dad set up his brokerage account with me as his advisor to manage the dollars that will come in from the exchange?)  I picked up the phone to avoid multiple emails and reminded him that I was a professional financial advisor.  “You do what?” he asked.  I was floored.  It was in this moment I fully grasped the seriousness of Dad’s dementia.  Could it be that my father had no recollection of what I do for a living?  

     With Dad’s mental faculties impaired, I realized I needed to scan his email for any transactions I may not have been aware of.  I discovered two emails of the same date entitled, “Welcome to Wells Fargo.”  One email was sent at 2:53 p.m. and the second was sent at 4:06 p.m.  I’m thinking Dad opened two checking accounts online because he forgot about the first. Both emails showed $150 as the opening deposit.  By this time I was commercial, industrial-strength frustrated.  I called Dad to ask if he was aware of opening two accounts, and he said no.  His intent was to open one checking for $150 and one savings for $25.  I told him the emails were indicating two accounts at $150 each.  He then asked if I could fix this, and I told him I would try.  At this point I was struggling with why I had to clean up yet another mess.  If he would quit attempting financial transactions and let me do them for him, we wouldn’t have these problems.  I have very little downtime for myself.  I feel emotionally drained when I have to use the scarce resource of time to deal with a situation that was preventable. 

     Seeing that time is precious, I decided I didn’t have time to throw myself a pity party.  I pressed on and looked up his Chase account online.  Sure enough, there were two pending payments of $150 waiting to be sent to Wells Fargo.  What started as a proactive step on my father’s part had turned into a financial fiasco.  Dad’s debt is still growing, albeit slowly, and the last thing we need is $300 charged on a credit card plus the interest that will accrue.  

     Since I had Dad’s permission to “fix this,” I took a copy of my Power of Attorney (POA) and a copy of the account number and went to the nearest Wells Fargo bank.  I was nervous because some organizations don’t accept a POA until it’s reviewed by their legal department, which can take a couple of weeks.  However, this sweet banker was fine with the documentation I provided and was willing to talk to me about this fiasco. I explained the whole situation, and her solution was quick and decisive. 

     “Since we don’t see the opening deposits yet,” she said, “we can just close the accounts right now, and the Chase payments will be rejected.  It will be as if these accounts were never opened.”  I agreed with her recommendation.

     “Let’s close them,” I said.  She also offered a solution. 

     “Your Dad doesn’t need to go online to open a checking account.  Since his ministry account is here, we have his drivers license, signature card, SSN, etc, on file, so it only takes a phone call to open an account.”  I asked if I could do that for him when the time came, and she said yes because she has my POA on file.  I profusely thanked her and marveled at God’s wonderful grace.  

     God just delivered Dad from a mess he unintentionally created.  That’s the kind of God we serve.  His grace abounds in the messes we make.  I have created plenty of messes in my life, and I am thankful that God unconditionally loves me and delivers me.  He did it today for my Dad, and He will do it again if He needs to.  God is good all of the time.  His grace always abounds–even when Dad forgets what I do for a living. 

Blessings,

Lee Ann