Michael Peres

"I am not sure exactly where to begin this entry but In March 2016, my 88 year father was hospitalized. Then in April just 2 weeks later my 81 year mother too was hospitalized. At that time, I had been their caregiver for more than 8 years and we were holding onto any normalcy we could. My job was...

"I am not sure exactly where to begin this entry but In March 2016, my 88 year father was hospitalized. Then in April just 2 weeks later my 81 year mother too was hospitalized. At that time, I had been their caregiver for more than 8 years and we were holding onto any normalcy we could. My job was stressful and constantly challenging. My role as their caregiver began when in the summer of 2010 when my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and my mother fell and was required to be bed bound for the next 6 months. My family was in uncharted territory and we set out to try and keep them together and out of nursing home care as long as possible. When I saw that the Medicaid Recoveries website had a place for testimonials, I felt moved to share my relationship with them. Both of my parents, Richard and Barbara Peres were upstanding citizens in Utica NY where they lived for almost 60 years. They were very giving people and helped so many underprivileged children for years. They moved to Rochester in 2009. For nearly 8 years we kept them together working with their assets and the VA. By the time of their hospitalization, we were emotionally spent and consumed most of their assets. After 3 weeks of hospitalization, my dad was placed at Woodside Manor of the Hurlbut Nursing Homes which began my introduction to the caring, passionate and empathetic staff at Medicaid Recoveries. I was stressed and concerned about what lay ahead. No one had prepared me for this role or the process. One day Barb and Dick with living in an assisted living environment with services. We were able to pay their bills and the next day they were both in different facilities and had no assets to take them forward. As I recall back to the summer of transition (hell), Barb Marr my case manager was comforting and reassuring. We worked very closely for what seemed forever to work through the process of getting both of my parents their long term Medicaid coverage. For those of you who do not know, it is complicated process and requires what will seem like thousands of documents. Some of them will date as far back as 5 years from the application. When overwhelmed and at a place of real loss, Barb continually coached me through the somewhat long and document heavy requirements of the application process. After many months of providing "yet one more document", both Barb and Dick received their coverages. There are not enough kind words to share my family's great appreciation for Medicaid Recoveries assistance and contributions. Nursing homes are not the place people wake up one morning to seek out. It seems though, as we age many of us get there. The process of being admitted to this world is complicated, stressful, and challenging. I did not think i could handle one more moment of the journey but the frequent email exchanges, meetings, and phone calls with Barb contributed greatly to me "dealing" with what i thought I could not. She was re-assuring honest, knowledgeable and really understood the application process. For the un-initiated, it’s a terrifying and scary place. Thank you Medicaid Recoveries and Barb Marr for your assistance and professional services when we were lost. Your expertise made getting the care my parents required at the end of their life possible. When there was no hope, you gave us hope that contributed to greatly to creating an inner peace during a very bumpy ride. "

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