Staff Spotlight - Angie Cuellar - Villa Assisted Living Corpus Christi

Healthy Living Tips

from the Villa Assisted Living Care Team

Spotlight on Executive Director, Angie Cuellar

Staff is the backbone of Villa’s organization and the key to providing top notch, compassionate care that gives families the peace of mind that their loved ones are safe, engaged and well-cared for. Villa Northwest is blessed to have an amazing group of long-tenured employees as well as welcoming to newer staff who share the mission and values of Villa Assisted Living. Today’s spotlight is on Angie Cuellar, Executive Director, LVN, CALM (Certified Assisted Living Manager).of Villa Northwests Assisted Living.

We are pleased to have Angie Cuellar, LVN, in the top leadership role. Angie has previous experience as the Executive Director of now closed St. Gabriel’s assisted living and memory care community. Angie was promoted to that position from her role as Resident Care Director overseeing the wellness department. Angie previously worked as an LVN in home health and as an Assistant Director of Nursing at Senior Care Centers. Working with seniors is her passion!

Angie has a calm demeanor and enjoys working with Villa seniors, staff and their families. Angie is taking the lead on admissions, and will be the first person with whom prospects talk with when they inquire about Villa Northwest. As a nurse, Angie is able to answer medical questions as well as help families manage the challenges of navigating a move to a senior community. Angie is available to do assessments at home, at a rehab/nursing center or at the Villa. She has brought her previous Wellness Director Silver Charles LVN to Villa to support our community.

Star Plus Medicaid Waiver Program for Assisted Living

In her new role, Angie has become adept at helping prospective residents to navigate getting on the Star Plus Medicaid Waiver Program for Assisted Living. The first step is for residents to be enrolled in Medicaid. To learn more about all your options, contact your local Aging and Disability Resource Center or call 2-1-1. A senior can only have $2,000 or less in their bank account to qualify for Medicaid.

Once on Medicaid, the next step is to apply for the Star Plus Medicaid Waiver Program for Assisted Living, the so-called “Waiver” program. The waitlist for this program is lengthy. If a senior has a health setback and is already in a nursing home, the on-site social worker can help them apply for the waiver program. Their application can be fast tracked if they are already residing in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) for 3-4 months. At some point, the senior may no longer meet nursing eligibility and will be discharged. While they might no longer meet nursing eligibility, they might not be safe to go home.

Assisted living can help seniors retain their independent lifestyle with a helping hand with various activities of daily living. While it might no longer be easy to pull the trash can to the curb or go grocery shopping, or mow the lawn, assisted living permits maintenance, carefree living so seniors can remain independent. That’s when Angie can visit and assess if the senior is eligible to reside in assisted living. Assisted Living offers a more robust social environment and assistance with daily tasks such as getting dressed in the morning, medication management and stand assist showers. Meals, housekeeping, and laundry are included. Residents need to be assessed to make sure they qualify. Angie will meet with the resident to see if they can ambulate to the bathroom, transfer out of bed or wheelchair and walk to the bathroom.

State-supported residents pay to the assisted living community room and board ($885/month) plus a “co-pay” for care, which is determined by the State based on the resident’s monthly income. Depending on the resident’s income and level of care needs, the State will determine what the resident’s co-pay is, ranging from $0 to $1,000/month. The State will pay the balance of the cost of “care” for “Waiver” clients, ranging from $900 to $3,000.

Angie works with SNF discharge planners and social workers as well as service coordinators at managed care organizations Superior and Wellpoint to get their clients assessed and enrolled in Medicaid for assisted living. Villa Northwest is the only assisted living community in Nueces County actively accepting Star Plus Waiver residents. Angie is a fabulous resource. If you have questions on private pay Assisted Living or the Medicaid Waiver program, please give Angie a call.

More about Angie

Angie and her brother Joe and sister Erica were raised in Falfurrias, TX . Angie has 4 children, ages 29 to 15. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, crossword puzzles, horseback riding and fishing. Angie says, “I grew up in a family of healthcare providers so I followed the legacy of providing great care!”

For families navigating assisted living options, your first point of contact will be Angie. We encourage you to speak directly with Angie at 361.777.8581 (cell) or 361.242.9446 (Villa) regarding senior solutions.