Paying for Housing Questions

1. How can I get an estimate of mom's veterans benefits?

   From your question, it appears that Mom could be eligible for the the VA Disability Pension, commonly referred to as the VA Benefit for Aid & Attendance, since Dad's service to our country meets the military requirement. The amount of the benefit, which is subject to income and asset testing and...
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2. If a POA sells property without consent, what happens when Medicaid tries to recoup assisted living expense?

   This is a complicated and potentially nasty situation. The simple answer is that your sister shouldn't be able to get away with selling the house without your mother's consent, and if she did sell it, she shouldn't be able to use the money for herself. Let's take a look at the different parts of this situation...
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3. Is there temporary financial assistance for assisted living until Grandma sells her house?

   There are not very many options when it comes to temporary assisted living financial assistance. You mention one of them, ElderLife Financial Services (www.elderlifefinancial.com) . ElderLife offers an interest only “bridge loan” to augment your income so you can pay to move into and remain at the fhe facility until your house sells...
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4. Is there a rating system for assisted living facilities?

   I don't know of any however you can call the ombudsmen in your town and ask them. The Department of Social Services might be able to help. Thanks, Donna Robbins
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5. Is there a way of keeping house while in Medicaid nursing home?

   Usually, yes. In most circumstances, she could move into a nursing home and qualify for Medicaid (called Medi-Cal in California) coverage of nursing home costs while still keeping her own house, as long as her other assets and income are below the state's Medicaid eligibility limits...
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6. Does Medicaid Pay for Assisted Living?

   In most but not all states, there are special Medicaid programs that can help pay some of the costs of an assisted-living facility. Although assisted living is not part of basic Medicaid coverage, Medicaid now recognizes that for many people it's a better and less expensive alternative than a nursing home...
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7. Limits on income and assets to qualify for Medicaid to pay for nursing home?

   If a woman's spouse needs long-term nursing home care, he may be eligible for Medicaid coverage of that care even though she keeps the family home and a substantial amount of other assets, as well as some regular income.
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8. Can Someone Transfer Property Prior to Entering Nursing Home and Still Get Full Medicaid Coverage?

   There are three circumstances in which persons who qualify for Medicaid coverage for nursing home care can transfer their own house to a family member without incurring any penalty from Medicaid, and without giving Medicaid any right to reimbursement from the house.
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9. Is it time to consider assisted living for my elderly mother?

   Thanks for writing. What makes this situation so distressing is the change. Sometimes your mother is fine. Sometimes she is uncontrollable. That type of switching back and forth keeps everyone off balance.
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10. Do I really owe the assisted living center money, although my grandmother never stayed there?

    A lot depends on what the paperwork -- the contract -- says and who signed it. The contract might provide for a non-refundable one month's deposit, which holds the living space so that someone else doesn't take it. If you signed the contract as a cosigner, guarantor or "responsible party" for...
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11. Can the government force the sale of a house to pay for care if the property is no longer owned by the patient?

    Because the transfer of her house took place eight years ago, it will not affect your mother-in-law's eligibility for Medicaid coverage of nursing home care now (though her other savings will be considered when she applies for coverage). There are a couple of different reasons for this...
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12. How can we pay for a caregiver to relieve Mom?

    Hiring a caregiver to help at the skilled nursing facility with your dad is certainly an option. • Begin discussing the situation with the social worker at the facility and understanding any issues or constraints that the facility has. Identify the issues that the facility may s...
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13. How can Mom keep her HUD apt without jeopardizing Medicare?

    This is an excellent question and one that may require a lot of action on your part in the next few days to find a resolution. If I were you here's what I would do:
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14. My mom needs money to pay for care – should I take it out of my retirement account?

    Your question about taking money out of a retirement account to pay for a parent's long term care is a common one. Although you are willing to sacrifice some of your retirement savings to get your mother the care she needs, there are better options for both of you.
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15. How do we manage these nursing home problems?

    Wow - it sounds as though you have had a difficult experience with a loved one who lives in a nursing home. While Medicare is a federal program and the benefits are the same from sate to state, each facility operates differently. Much of the actual care received by residents depends on the individuals on the staff at the facility and its management...
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16. Does TRICARE pay for nursing home or assisted living expenses?

    The simple answer to your question is no, TRICARE does not cover long term nursing home or assisted living expenses. TRICARE is the health care program serving active military personnel, military retirees and their families. TRICARE uses the same criteria as Medicare for covered services...
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17. What are reverse mortgages?

    A reverse mortgage is a financial tool for seniors over age 62 to tap the equity in their homes. Unlike a forward mortgage, no payments need to be made on a reverse mortgage until the owner no longer lives in the house.
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18. How can I move my mother to a nursing home near me?

    If you use the search engine on your computer and put in long term care in Scottsboro, Alabama, you will find listings for all the nursing homes in Alabama and their rates. I would visit the ones close to you. Bringing a parent from another state is common practice. Many homes will have practical suggestions based on your mother’s income...
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19. Can my father's credit card bills be set aside?

    To be clear, a person's credit card debt cannot be transferred to his or her family upon his or her death. This means that your father's credit card debt will die with him. I'm mentioning this because collection agencies will say almost anything to get the debt repaid, so it's important that you be...
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20. How can we keep my mother in her current living facility if her income is gone?

    There's no simple solution to this dilemma you're in. Medicaid is the only federal government program to pay long-term care costs for people with low income, once they have spent their assets. However, Medicaid will only cover someone in a facility that participates in Medicaid, and as you've discovered...
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