My mother is in the beginning stages of Alzheimers. She is originally from Ohio but has lived with me in Florida for the past 6 years after my father passed away. My family would like for her to move back to Ohio in a nursing home there. We are currently looking into prepaying her funeral expenses to use her assets in that way. Since she lives with me, her expenses are not greater than her income which is about $1,550 a month. Does she need to wait to move to Ohio to apply for Medicaid or can she begin the process in Florida.
Now it sounds like you have a bit of time to do this, here's my suggestions:
1. get mom to do her banking with a bank which is in both states FL & OH. If there isn't one, then maybe Ally bank which is a totally on-line one. They seem to be a no fee for those who direct deposit their SS too. I'd stay with the FL address for a few months then change to the OH address. Keep all her bank statements and while you're at it find all her banking for the last 3 - 5 years just in case OH Medicaid asks for it (which they probably are)
2. Decide who in OH is going to be the point person for mom for the future. Then you need to get mom having mail sent to that address. Magazine subscriptions, the new banking situation, any credit cards, her life insurance policies. etc. You are establishing her residency.
3. Now if mom owns ANY real property in FL (house, car, land) this is going to be a problem. Now those are exempt assets for FL Medicaid but if she moves to OH, then they are "foreign" and non exempt. They will have to be sold (house, land) with the proceeds going to pay for her care or her needs. Car she can keep but registered & insured for OH. Again all about establishing residency.
4. Her SS and retirement - if she is not on-line for looking at her SS and any retirement right now, please get that done. I'd do this with the FL address for a couple of months and then just go on-line and change it the month before the move to OH. Medicaid is going to want to see her award letter for this year for SS and any retirement so again find those and keep them with all her banking stuff.
About the FH if you do this in FL be very clear that she is moving to OH. The policy may or may not transfer or be valid in another state. You know the FH are used to doing Medicaid compliant policies in super-short order so I might wait on doing this till after the move. personally I'd shop it now but wait till the move to get a policy done & paid for. FH stuff again has specific state laws so what works for FL may not work for OH. Good luck.