My mother receives retirement funds monthly and I am looking into nursing home options for her. I am wondering what are my responsibilities that I would have to pay or what would she have to pay out of her funds when time comes for her to move into the home? ie: a monthly payment for the nursing home, social security checks being taken by the home?
If mom has money for 2 years of NH (lets say 180K for 2 years), what happens for year 3? Many NH do NOT take Medicaid, they are only private pay - really you don't want to have to move her again if you can help it. Some facilities take only a limited number of beds for Medicaid and there is a waiting list for those limited beds - this is trickier in that the waiting list is really only filled from existing residents and if there isn't perfect alignment of the star$ for mom, you may have to private pay for the "gap" till her name works itself up the waiting list; other facilities are such that all beds are Medicaid but you private pay till mom has done a spend-down to be at the point to be eligible for being "Medicaid Pending". Be very clear with the NH as to mom's ability to pay and your inability to pay for mom. Many places really "guilt" family to private pay for mom which family just cannot afford.
WHatever you do either:
- have mom sign all the paperwork herself OR
- always sign your name as "Jane Jones Smith in her limited capacity as DPOA for Ann Jones".
- & do NOT leave the facility without your copy of each & every page of the admissions contract. Don't hand them a check for the deposit till you have a copy of all the paperwork. Good luck and let us know how the mice-maze journey of finding long term care for your mom is going.
In some states, adult children of impoverished and infirm parents can be held responsible for their support, but parents who have their own income would be expected to use that.
If you are responsible for your mom and you help her transfer to a nursing home you MAY have to sign something along those lines but be damned sure what you are signing and if you have questions make sure you get satisfactory answers before you sign anything.
Kinda a rip if this is done. Ditto for phones. My mom's "tiered" place charge for parking spaces for those with cars. These kind of things just add up when it's said & done.