My grandma has gone over the $2,000 cap, and I need to spend down some of her money. I was told I could maybe buy her a new lift chair for her room, or an iPad so that she can FaceTime with family. I don't know if these are items that I could spend it on? Does anybody know or have any ideas of other things I could buy for her to use some of that money? The overage has just happened over time and now I'm afraid she'll be denied because she's over the amount, but she only makes about $1,900 a month.
As long as the money is spent on her its Ok what you spend it on. That $60 can get her hair done. Snacks from the vending machine. Buy her favorite food. Buy her a new outfit. I was told to be creative. Then give the receipt to the person who is in charge of her PNA account and get ur money back. If its you that pays Moms NH each month and keep out $60, you deduct the amount, keeping receipts. Her bank acct should be 2k or below when you do the yearly renewal.
Me, I allowed the NH to become Moms payee. They set up a Personal Needs Acct for Mom. They had times they would have Chinese night and order out. I gave permission for them to take the cost out of Moms PNA acct. Her hair got cut there.
Many families make the mistake in believing that the only bill a senior's money can go towards is a nursing home or some other type of care bill.
This simply is not true. If your grandmother needs a life chair because she can no longer get in and out of a regular chair, that is a need. It is also a bill.
If your grandmother still owns a car and that vehicle is used in her service for any reason (transporting her to appointments, running her errands, doing her shopping, etc...), that is also a bill and a necessary expense. Gas, insurance, registration, taxes, repair... that is all part of what you can spend her money on.
Does she have a pre-paid funeral planned? That is another qualifying expense her money can be spent down on.
Is her home in need of repair?
All of these are qualifying expenses. Talk to an elder law/estate planning attorney to be reassured.