Rose is a hospice patient, who recently moved in with her daughter. Along with the increasing loss of independence and anticipatory grief regarding her terminal illness, Rose is undergoing a divorce after years in a toxic relationship. That has caused a financial burden on Rose and her family, and as her palliative care social worker, I have been assisting in finding community resources. Rose decided she needed to apply for Medicaid in the event she would need in-home caregivers or even long term care at a nursing facility. This was so important to her as she didn’t want her decline to cause financial stress on her daughter and family. I went to Rose’s home, and we completed the Medicaid application together. Rose had all the necessary verifying paperwork. I remember telling her that I never had a Medicaid application process go so smoothly. Rose was so organized! She was approved just weeks later. Rose asked me to check her Medicaid status during a routine home visit. When I told her that her application had been approved, Rose was so relieved that she began to cry. Getting Medicaid has opened up a number of financial resources that have given her so much peace of mind. So many patients faced with their mortality and end of life care are concerned with the impact that their illness will have on their loved ones, both financially and emotionally. Medicaid allows patients like Rose and families like hers to navigate the uncertain waters of terminal illness without the added ballast of how to do so without important services or possible financial ruin for their loved ones. No one should have to juggle this sort of worry with the complex emotions of saying goodbye. Doing the work that I do, it’s an immense comfort to be able to direct my patients to such a valuable resource.
