I have purchased her a recliner that was defective so I had to send it back ( my 30 days is almost up); I have pre paid 4 funerals; bought her a makeup stand in the nursing home; bought her a winter coat, makeup etc; an I pad. There is still money left. Can I buy her gift cards to grocery stores? She loves popcorn and snacks.
This firm's site might be of use -- they are in Ohio.
https://www.jarvisfirm.com/areas-of-practice/ohio-medicaid-planning/
I have many examples but will not bore yall with them
Yes, profits on condo should be used for moms care rather than having taxpayers kick in until she truly is medicaid eligible. But this is going on system wide on state and federal level and that is a big problem that our leaders should be addressing. So its not just OP mother we are paying for, it is millions like that, people who are not yet in position to need help. They very well may be at a future point in time at which time we should be happy to help, but not until then.
That is what the money should be used for, so we taxpayers don't have to pay for her care. Her money should be used for her not wasted.
My advice to you is to speak to an elder law attorney who has experience with Medicaid who will explain to you what you can and cannot purchase as the spend down.
I ASSUME that to mean that mom left her condo and entered a nursing home, and that you as POA have rented her condo out, thus throwing her into profit you cannot spend down.
If I am wrong, do fill us in.
If this condo of hers is getting ANYTHING appreciable in rental I don't see how you CAN spend it all down. As you said, you already did too many funerals pre-paid.
Are there repairs that have to be done to mom's condo?
That being one idea. Bump up the insurance on it. Do repairs that need doing. Hire a management company for it.
I think that it's now worth your time to go to an Elder Law Attorney (hey, if you are POA that is a LEGITIMATE expense in spending down).
You could also hire a fiduciary, licensed and on the up and up, and if you are POA you can supervise that person's doing a lot of work that you simply oversee. Will save you from a lot of record keeping, but you still are responsible as the POA, so careful does it.
Not an easy question, but hoping the attorney has some options for you.