Some formerly homeless and low-income D.C. seniors are turning down necessary assisted living care because, after charges for the facility, they would not have enough to cover their expenses, according to a D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI) report released in early September.
To move into an assisted living facility, homeless or formerly homeless D.C. residents insured through Medicaid must pay nearly all of their income for housing and additional costs of care. Residents can only keep a personal needs allowance (PNA) — a monthly sum individuals on Medicaid can retain to go toward personal expenses. The District’s PNA, set at $138 a month, is residents’ only source of disposable income, according to DCFPI, the local progressive policy organization.
This PNA applies to residents at Abrams Hall, a senior apartment complex in Northwest D.C., and D.C.’s only assisted living facility designed to serve individuals who have experienced homelessness or have a history of behavioral health conditions, according to the report. The facility subjects residents to the $138 PNA set by the D.C. Council. Prospective residents say the PNA is not enough to cover their monthly expenses, causing many to reject the care altogether…