My 83 year old mother has been in a nursing home since April 1st of this year. She has Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma and chose not to treat it so she has worsened and needs 24/7 care and also has hospice providers that come in as well. We anticipate she will run out of all of her funds by January or so, so I am trying to plan. I understand once she is approved, her social security and pension will go to the nursing home and she will get to use $50 a month for cell phone, personal items, etc. Those are the things I am paying for right now with our joint account but the other bills I have are the copays for her medications at the NH that are not hospice related. Like her thyroid medicine, other medicines she has needed for infections or swelling. When she is on Medicaid/Medicare will her meds be covered at 100% then? Also, she does have my dads retirement health plan in addition to Medicare now, that does pay her prescriptions but I assume she will have to drop that when she goes on Medicaid? Thank you for all of your help in advance!
As you know this is coming I would now look into your mom's income. As she receives both a pension and SS she may not easily qualify for the income for medicaid eligibility. She may be "monthly income rich and cash poor" which is where so many of our seniors end up. I would see an Elder Law Attorney for options. Also, the fact you have a joint income and may have thereby made her account not her own individual property may be complicated and you should discuss rather being her POA and listed on any account as such and as signee for checking account. Your Mom may require a Q.I.T. (qualified income Trust) or a Miller Trust in order to put some of her monthly income (likely her SS) into that Trust, her pension then going to the Nursing Home.
It's time now to discuss this with the facility where she is. They may well have a social worker connection to help to guide you and if not, one to recommend to hire on for help rather than the more expensive attorney.
Wishing you good luck.