Preparing for Move-In

My checklists have checklists (and that’s on a normal day).

Preparing for Robert moving in?  Let’s just say my checklists are having a tough time keeping up.

Preparations are well under way and tasks are being crossed off the list at pretty good clip! 

I started the move prep by creating a checklist (shocker).  I quickly found that a move date of “sometime in April” was not going to work with transferring prescriptions, supplies, benefits and transportation to Day Program.

After confirming that Robert would have a supply of all medications for at least two weeks into April, I chose April 1 as the official move-in date.  We’re actually moving him in Saturday, March 30 but it was simpler to choose the first of the month as the “official” date. 

My checklist included notifications:

The Regional Center (which helps provide Robert certain benefits and who I consider my safety net);

New Home;

Social Security;

Medi-Cal;

Day Program;

Doctor (GP);

Neurologist;

Of course, before these notifications, I talked to Other Brother about Robert moving in.  I explained my rationale for moving him in here (let’s be real: we have to cut out the middle man, aka, New Home).  I explained the extra assistance we will get (Robert would qualify for In-Home Support Services as well as respite care through the Regional Center). 

Other Brother said it sounded like we had it all planned out.  His only bit of advice: Keep the puppy away from Robert’s turkey sandwiches!  (Good thinking!).   

After the notifications, I worked at transferring medical supplies and prescriptions and setting up transportation to and from Day Program.  Fortunately, we will be able to keep Robert at his Day Program which he loves. I wasn’t able to get very far when talking directly to the transport company because Regional Center hadn't yet notified them of the change.  I went back to Regional Center (thank goodness for email) and made a second request to get that transferred.  I want to be prepared for when the transport will arrive so Robert can be ready!

The Regional Center advised me to contact In-Home Supportive Services immediately so we could get those services started as soon as possible.  I called and was able to get the application started over the phone.  There will be a form for the doctor to complete as well as an in-home interview but once those are done, we should be able to get a little extra help. 

I realized during this move process how grateful I am for being a control freak (I keep telling my husband that’s a positive characteristic!).  Maintaining control over a few items when Robert moved into New Home has now saved me an enormous amount of time.

I realized how much easier the move to our house is because I have Durable Power of Attorney and maintained that instead of transferring that over to New Home (yikes, can you imagine?). 

My favorite time-saver has been becoming Robert’s Representative Payee at Social Security (and not transferring it to New Home).  Since Social Security doesn’t recognize DPOA, I cannot recommend this enough.  It allows me to talk to a Social Security representative and make address changes on Robert’s behalf – over the phone!  I am sure it would have been a nightmare trying to transfer it back to me if I had given New Home this authority.

Unfortunately, you have to go to a Social Security office to first sign up to become a Representative Payee (make an appointment if possible to reduce the wait).  Once you have done that and are approved, it will be rare you will have to return to an office!  For more information on the program, visit here.  

I am also grateful for changing Robert’s GP last summer from the one provided through New Home.  Aside from being extremely unhappy with the New Home doctor (oh yeah, he was incompetent!), this has proved beneficial in more ways than I could have imagined at the time.  I am grateful I don’t have to spend the time finding a new doctor while doing all the other move preparation.

Transferring the prescriptions has been my number one worry and that is going to be a post all by itself.  (Everyone knows my worry can take up many, many pages.)

For now, I have a few things to cross off my checklist - plus, I need to get busy training the puppy to keep his paws off Robert’s food!