I did fill out the AL Calculator here on this Agingcare website, for my mom who is in her 90s and lives at home. She is getting more & more frail, and has fallen. She has a little nest egg and gets Social Security, BUT even with that, she does not have enough for an AL. The figures given in the AL "Calculator" are just not current....in our area they gave a figure of $3,300 per month and that is about $500 too low. (This is for No medication help, no mobility help, just base rent).
We have been to visit several facilities, but it is very difficult to ascertain the Total Costs in advance. Yes, I know it is a changing situation. But who in their right mind would sell their house and move into a place, without reasonable assurance that they will NOT run out of money?
I am feeling like I have to make a major Life Decision, and not able to see the End Game where she expires peacefully in a nice cosy bed in her OWN ROOM. It really seems like you either have to have nothing, or a million dollars; those who are middle-classed have paid paid paid all their lives and now have to pay pay pay and not know if they have enough for the end.
I would appreciate any wisdom from those who made it possible for their middle-classed parents to have a middle-classed death.
(Yes she has already pre-paid her funeral).
That is something she never would have went to at home.
She is 92 and suffered a stroke, 18 months ago. She tried to return home, but realized that she couldn't do that. So, yes. She sold everything. It went well, since she was able to say what to sell and what to take to her new room.
My own mother is 96 and in a NH. She has let her house set for 2 years and it is deteriorating and costing her money.
You may want to look for one of the nicer nursing homes. Then, insurance and medicare helps pay. And when you run out of money, Medicaid.
You can also get VA Aid and Attendance for your mom if she was married to a wartime veteran. Up to $1100 per month.
When you add in the bus trips they go on and the entertainment that comes in, there is no way you can do all that cheaper at home.
Right now, mom can stay in the ALF forever and not need Medicaid.
If she needs a Nursing Home, that would be different, that could run through her savings in 3 months.