Quote:
Originally Posted by UGAalum94
I think that someone should do this for the old guy or someone should ensure he is living in a facility that provides working heat if he's not competent to provide it for himself.
But I don't think the power company has the responsibility to do actually collect bills from the mentally impaired every month.
Even if we decide that it's in the public interest to do this, it would make more sense to provide one set of helpers as opposed to each utility having their own help-the-elderly-pay their bills staff.
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There actually already is something like this in most states. It's usually done through the Department of Aging in every state.
The thing is that the person has to be referred to DADS (as it's called in Texas) and from there, the person will be referred to a Home Health Agency.
The issue becomes who becomes that person that referrs this person. What most people don't know is that anyone can refer and elderly person for this service. It doesn't have to involve APS, it can be a referral even from the person themselves.
The problem becomes that some elderly don't feel that they need this service because they feel that they will have to give up their independence and they have become "elderly." Another problem is that some aged patients (particularly men and WWII vets) came from a time in society where taking "aide" is seen as a disgrace. It's seen as being "poor" and that isn't something that they want to be seen as, even if they have the need.
Another issue becomes the financial issue. Some of these services are based on Medicaid status. Medicaid status is based on income. If they make so much over the Medicaid statues, then they don't actually qualify for the services. It doesn't matter if it's a $1.00 over or $0.50 over, if it's over, it's over. Some people don't see the "need" they only see the black and white of it. Yes they block the person from being able to get the services that they need, but in essence, they will tell you there is "nothing we can do."
Another issue is that if the person is qualified and gets the o.k. for the Home Health Services from Medicaid, then their personal physician may not approve the services for them. Yes, in order for the Home Health Agency to provide ANY care, their primary physician has to approve and write a doctor's order. If they choose NOT to write an order, then the person is further delayed from attaining the service that the NEED.
Another issue becomes the Home Health Agency and DADS rules and regulations themselves. If the person (who actually comes into the home and provides certain services, i.e. bathing, toileting, grooming, shopping, escort, ect) there are certain things that CAN and CANNOT do. This is in order to PROTECT both the client and the Primary Home Care Aide/Attendant. Handling ANY TYPE OF MONEY/PAYMENTS is one of them, sadly. A lot of Home Health Agencies WILL NOT allow a PHC Aide to handle any of the client's money--EVER! Whether it's in an envelope, in a money order, in a cashier's check, in whatever with duct tape, super glue, or gorilla glue. The AGENCY will not allow the PHC Aide/Home Health Aide to handle that envelope. It's just a matter of protection for both parties involved.
This is something that when I was working in the home health industry as a PHC Supervisor, I have seen before--and believe me, it can get ugly.
Like I said, although the services are available, there can be many barriers to the services themselves for the elderly/aged/Alzheimer patient.
And for this, "But I don't think the power company has the responsibility to do actually collect bills from the mentally impaired every month." specifically, the problem is that in many cases, there may be a payee that the mentally impaired person has. Either that payee isn't acting right, or the person has enough cognitive reasoning to be able to decide what they want to do with their money.
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