How can we afford care for my mother when my father goes into a nursing home and can no longer care for her?
My Dad, 82 yrs old, can go into a VA nursing home if and when needed. The question is my Mom, 79 yrs old. She alreay has alzheimers & my Dad takes care of her in their home. He tells me that they don't qualify for medicaid because he gets a little too much with the small VA pension he started getting a year or two ago and if she needs a permanent nursing home, that cost per month is more than they get a month. What can a person in this situation do when his health no longer allows him to take care of her?
Expert Answer
For Medicaid eligibility, only the income of the spouse needing assistance is counted towards eligibility. So only your mother's income counts towards her eligibility for Medicaid in a nursing home. Your father's income and VA benefit only count for his Medicaid eligibility.