WHAT IS G.R.I.N.?

G.R.I.N. is Guardian for Residents In Need - a new not for profit financial guardianship program that aims to help indigent nursing home residents who (1) are too impaired to complete a Medicaid application, and (2) receive their sole income from Social Security.

WHY WAS G.R.I.N. CREATED?

G.R.I.N. was created to meet the vital needs of three parties:

• First and foremost, G.R.I.N. meets the needs of incapacitated residents who must have a way to pay for their nursing home care.

• G.R.I.N. also serves the needs of the facilities that incapacitated residents depend upon to provide them with necessary medical services.

• Finally, G.R.I.N. serves the needs of judges seeking to appoint qualified guardians to protect vulnerable indigent incapacitated nursing home residents.

HOW DOES G.R.I.N. WORK?

G.R.I.N. will secure the resident’s Medicaid documentation, and redirect the resident’s full income to the facility, in exchange for a one-time flat fee paid by the facility. Providers will only need to pay additional fees if legal intervention is needed to pursue full reimbursement on the incapacitated resident’s account.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING G.R.I.N.?

• The resident’s full income is paid to the facility to defray the cost of the resident’s care.

• Nursing homes get a partner in the Medicaid application process.

• Once payment sources are secured for the incapacitated nursing home residents – both Medicaid and NAMI – G.R.I.N. will ask to be discharged by the court.

IS THERE ANYTHING G.R.I.N. DOES NOT DO?

G.R.I.N. does not make personal care decisions for its wards. If a medical decision arises that cannot be made by a family member or ethics committee, the court will be notified of the need and the provider may have to pay a fiduciary to make the treatment decision.