Everett son's struggle to get mom into assisted living

Last edited Tue May 30, 2023, 12:13 PM - Edit history (1)

John Stejer’s mother, 86, is eligible for Medicaid. But he discovered no place in the state would take her. “I was actually in disbelief.”

EVERETT — John Stejer wishes his mom, Betty, still lived close enough to visit at least weekly. Instead, when her memory and judgment diminished rapidly, the only place he could find an affordable assisted living bed was in Tucson, Arizona.

“We all thought this is where she would spend her last days with family,” Stejer said. “To discover that there was no place in the state — I mean, no place — that was really discouraging. And I was actually in disbelief.”

Stejer has lived in the Everett area for nearly 40 years, now in a small, two-bedroom home with one bathroom and stairs. He is currently raising his grandson there. In 2021, his then 86-year-old mom was living independently in an apartment in Marysville, with neighbors who looked out for each other.

But she had wandering episodes close together in October. In the first one, she just ran out of gas — which was unusual. The second time, she spent the night disoriented and outside in very cold weather, after she had driven to the end of a remote logging road in Darrington. A hiker found her the next afternoon and alerted police. Stejer had filed a missing person’s report in the morning.

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/everett-sons-struggle-to-get-mom-into-assisted-living-22k-1500-miles/

My mom went through similar problems. We never went the Medicaid route still I had to put up $55,000 my money towards her care.

Sad how we treat the most vulnerable in our country.