Managing fine now that UTI cleared up and have aides in. This is holding us. But Mom did not do any pre-planning and my sister and brother (sister esp.) is going on and on about costs (yes, the aides cost, but they do Mom a lot of good and she can afford 20 hours a week.) and that her estate will "evaporate" if she goes to nursing home or assisted living.
The hectoring is getting on my last few nerves. Sister while on a visit tried to go with mom and LIE to get a power of attorney. Mom is not capable of doing such a thing.
Anyway, can anyone point me to resources that will tell me EXACTLY what will happen/has to happen financially if Mom has to go to a facility?
If Mom will need more care, an AL is private pay. Where I live, if you pay privately at least two years Medicaid may pay for the care. Depends on if the AL excepts it, if they do, if they have reached the % of Medicaid residents they allow.
If Mom needs LTC, any money she has will go to her care, when gone, then Medicaid can be applied for.
I would tell siblings that if Mom lives long with this disease her money will be used for her care. So just figure there will be nothing left to inherited.
Nursing homes will usually tell prospective family members what the local cost is for private vs. shared room. In my state it's around $6,500.00/mo or $78K/yr. What your mom pays for aides is the best as it can ever get for her situation - as long as she is able to stay home.
A website http://seniorliving.org, provides an overall financial comparison for aides, nursing homes, memory care, among other things. Click on the state Mom lives in. If you scroll down the site there is some explanation of the types of care and how people pay for that care. After reviewing the site, you might want to tell siblings to review as well.
Once on Medicaid, all her income will go to the AL or LTC. She won’t be able to pay any debts, her mortgage if she has one. Now Medicaid in some states does not pay for assisted living. There are some states where there is a Medicaid waiver but it doesn’t cover the entire cost of AL. Also in some states. AL’s don’t take Medicaid.
if she applies for Medicaid, there will be a 5 year look back on her finances and assets.