If videoconferencing would help, there is this tablet designed for low-skilled people:
It’s a tablet designed for older people, but the simplicity might work with your brother as well. There’s no setup needed. It’s preconfigured to use cell service. From what I understand, you don’t actually buy the tablet. You subscribe to the service and the tablet comes along with it. You can do month-to-month, but there is also an option to pay for a year up front for $700.
He has a phone and someone is always around that can help him setup a Duo video call with us. But man, I wish they had had that last year when my parents were alive. We couldn’t see them because their assisted living facility was on lockdown. My dad had a PhD in biochemistry, taught medical school, and did cancer research but in his later years, a flip phone was about all that he could handle. This would have been perfect.
What about activities that come to him (and his friends and girlfriend)? A masseuse’s visit (couple’s massage!), a musical or dance performance, a catered meal (think renting out a food truck) — something (or several things) like that.
(My friend’s parents got a taco vendor and a mariachi band for their anniversary and it was bumpin’!)
I’m drawing blanks on other ideas, but maybe you can think of something he (and/or they) would enjoy that could be booked as … a housecall?
And you’re a mensch for helping your brother like this. It sounds like he is happy and satisfied with how his life is going — being unable to easily find something he wants and needs is a sign of that.
Wait, could you spend the money on dental implants?
Unfortunately, implants are about 3K apiece and he needs 3 or 4.
Would it be a good idea to set aside some money for when he is older? Take
a one or two hundred and have some fun. But might be a good idea
to invest the rest so it is there in case of a emergency.
I believe in most states there are exceptions that allow for investing cash in certain types of retirement accounts/instruments.
Also, some assets (like ones home, car, life insurance policies, household furnishings, etc.) are exempt–they don’t count toward the Medicaid asset limit. So, you could invest all that extra money into those kinds of things.
For me it would be better to invest all of the money; not blow it on fun things that he may not even care that much about. Better to provide for his future, I think. Just my 2 cents.
You mentioned that he can work a Television and DVD player.
Does that mean he typically uses the DVD player?
If so, what does he watch on DVD?
Maybe a boxed set or two from his favorites.
Although you mentioned him not needing any furniture, what about accessories such as clip-on reading lamps, clock radios, clocks…?
If he is working on his feet, better shoes are always good, as are insoles.
This is semi-unethical, but: ten days before the deadline, buy something on Amazon that’s got free returns, then return it after the deadline.
Or not even Amazon, just a local store.
Does everything have to stay with him where he lives? I don’t know what sense of possessions he has, are there items a little too valuable to risk ‘disappearing’ that could be kept by you or other family members for him to bring to him on occasions? Perhaps items he’ll remember in the future to help maintain family memories, and perhaps things that will give him some possessions to hold onto in the future. I do hope he has other family that stays in contact with him,
Does he have pictures of you and any other family? There are those fancy eFrames and the like now, can he keep those hung on the wall? Would he care about them?
Why do you say: “The stimulus money must be spent. It cannot be invested”?
There do not seem to be any such strings attached to the stimulus payments as far as I can see.
Put it into an index fund in his name.
This sounds pretty fishy to me.
The restriction comes from Medicaid, not the stimulus program. A participant is limited in the amount of total assets that they have and an index fund would count against the limit.
I never really thought about the location of the assets. Clearly there would be some reasonability test involved. I’m sure that I can’t say “I bought him a laptop but I keep it at my house 200 miles away.” Other than that, I don’t know.
The only other family, outside of my immediate family, is my older brother. Unfortunately, he lives in Florida and doesn’t have the opportunity to visit very often. We do talk on a regular basis but right now, that’s about all that we can do. Like I mentioned above, we are going to visit him this weekend and take a mini-vacation.
He has some family pictures but I’m not sure how many. I really the eFrames idea or maybe some of those 3D picture things. Thanks.
Can you throw a party for the residents and staff? Cake and ice cream etc.
When you decide please come back and let us know - I’d be interested in hearing how you resolved this problem.
A premium mattress set might be good. I know the home provides a bed, but I’m guessing it’s a cheapo mattress.
This wouldn’t use up much money, and sorry if it was already suggested and I missed it, but a large supply of jigsaw puzzles at his skill level would be fun. Or any puzzle with patterned blocks. My friend’s sister loves jigsaw puzzles, connect-the-dots books, hama beads, word-search books, things of that nature.
Sure! When I picked him up this morning, I was given a VISA gift card with a $500 balance on it. We drove an hour and a half to a Bed Bath & Beyond. There, we bought a memory foam mattress pad, a nice pillow, and a waterproof cover for the pad. The house manager. Next we went to Target and bought various matching towels and a shower curtain. He also bought kitchen towels for the house. That was all that the house manager could think of when I asked if there was anything that they needed.
We had lunch at Chili’s and used his money. I wasn’t comfortable with it but Stephen wanted to do it and his case manager said that it was OK.
Our last stop was at Walmart where we got some Oklahoma shirts, sorts and personal items. He also bought some roses and vase for his girlfriend. Stephen doesn’t know yet but we were told that might have cancer. We’re hoping that everything is going to be OK but the signs aren’t good.
All told, we spent $470. I’m happy with that. I appreciate all of the help.
His girlfriend?
Yes, his girlfriend. Sorry about missing noun.