O/T Assisted Living Question

My mom and dad have decided it's time to move into an Assisted Living Vacility.

Can anyone tell me if there are programs out there to help pay for assisted living?

Here in Illinois assisted living is considered a medical expense so Dad's V.A. benefits will help some what but I was wondering if there are any other programs available. Thanks John B.

My grandmother was in an assisted living facility in Iowa for several years. They also had FULL assistance, if needed later. What I recall is they would not kick her out when her money ran out, they would just keep her SS check.

If they still own property in their name, there may be issues getting help from any but the VA. Many state and Federal programs are designed to accommodate those with fixed incomes, and few assets. Local governments have help centers that may be a resource. Assisted living agencies can be shopped to find hidden, or obvious assistance plans. Jim

Just sayin here that you may want to consult an attorney to make sure that the place does not bleed money out of your parents or you, and your inheritance (if any). There are some real shysters out there.

One possibility is to have a visiting nurse come every other day or what ever is best. A guy I knew years ago, his wife was a visiting nurse, she made $30 an hour doing it too.....That is some good money.

Both my folks just went to one in july. It is "private pay"... no money no staying. VA benefits will assist if he or she are eligible (I'm in the process of getting that). Medicare will not, it is assisted, not nursing home. I am writing some hefty monthly checks and it is a race to see if they outlive their money. That being said it is THEIR money they saved for their care. I tried my darnedest to line up in home care but that was 34$ per hour times 24 hrs...you do the math. The whole money thing makes my stomach hurt but oh well.

As WileE said you need to consult an attorney. If they give you their money long enough before they pass on the Gov't pays for their care after the money that they still have runs out. If too little time has passed, money that has been gifted gets claimed by gov't.

As WileE said you need to consult an attorney. If they give you their money long enough before they pass on the Gov't pays for their care after the money that they still have runs out. If too little time has passed, money that has been gifted gets claimed by gov't.

(quoted from post at 16:28:10 12/06/14)
As WileE said you need to consult an attorney. If they give you their money long enough before they pass on the Gov't pays for their care after the money that they still have runs out. If too little time has passed, money that has been gifted gets claimed by gov't.

Click to expand...

Not to be mean, but gaming the system so taxpayers have to pay for your inheritance? :?:

(quoted from post at 16:51:28 12/06/14)

(quoted from post at 16:28:10 12/06/14)
As WileE said you need to consult an attorney. If they give you their money long enough before they pass on the Gov't pays for their care after the money that they still have runs out. If too little time has passed, money that has been gifted gets claimed by gov't.

Click to expand...

Not to be mean, but gaming the system so taxpayers have to pay for your inheritance? :?:

Click to expand...

Not gaming, just doing what the law allows, Most people, myself included, would like to leave an inheritance. After paying your way all your life suddenly with no one asking you your cost of living goes up by 20X overnight.

I know this sounds cold , but pre pay for the funerals first. I lost my mother this summer and the nursing care was a LOT. I wish you luck. joe

(quoted from post at 16:51:28 12/06/14)

(quoted from post at 16:28:10 12/06/14)
As WileE said you need to consult an attorney. If they give you their money long enough before they pass on the Gov't pays for their care after the money that they still have runs out. If too little time has passed, money that has been gifted gets claimed by gov't.

Click to expand...

Not to be mean, but gaming the system so taxpayers have to pay for your inheritance? :?:

Click to expand...

It is legal. I am meeting with the attorney next week to move my farms into LLC's in the kids names. There is a "look back" period of I think 5 years. I intend to appear as a pauper on paper. Wont own a damned thing. Govt. and their rules makes crooks out of lots of people that are trying to protect what they have. I am doing it cause I feel that pretty soon health insurance will be "means tested" You got property, you pay more. 23 years with a kidney transplant makes you think.

Gene

States are all different but likely they will need to be broke before they can get assistance other than social security.

My mother moved into assisted living 6 years ago. Dad passed away 10 years ago. She has had to sell every bit of the land that my father accumulated in order to pay the assisted living bill. She is expecting to outlive the money she got from selling the last section 3 years ago and then she will be a pauper and the state will help pay the tab, along with assigning her SS check over to the care provider.

Dad worked hard to leave something for I and my sisters to inherit but it isn't going to work out that way. Mother is a little sad about that but she has no choice and she is happier to be paying for her keep so far.

Sure Dad could have hidden assets under LLCs or other shelters but he didn't think that was quite honest and he and mother always insisted on paying their own way.

If it is just ASSISTED living then the VA is all he will get. If it is a full nursing care they can qualify for help AFTER they exhaust their own money/estate.

My Father is in an assisted living home right now. His care is right at $4500 per month plus Doctor and meds. His Medicare helps with the Doctors and meds. So his pension money, social security, and family pay for his assisted living cost,not the Federal government.

Even if your parents are indigent I do not think there is any programs that pay for assisted living care. Just full nursing home care as it is counted as a medical need.

For the guys promoting giving their land/home to their kids so they are technically BROKE so they can have the REST of us pay for their care. I know it is LEGAL but it should not be. You should pay your own way if your able.

Local fellow is in the nursing home. HE owned SEVEN farms 20 years ago. He scammed them to his kids over the years so he is now on Medicare and Medicaid. That is not RIGHT. He passed million of dollars of assets to his kids and now we are paying for his care.

My sis looked into assisted living with 8 hour per day home health care for my dad and stepmother with the health care only for my dad and it would cost about as much as a nursing home. Assisted living allows them to live without abiding by the rules the nursing home has or is required to have and allows the resident to live more privately than a nursing home. The nursing home has 24 hour care vs however many hours of care you feel you need or can afford in assisted living.

Dad spent the summer in the nursing home recuperating from a broken leg. He's 90 and in good health but weak and low on physical stamina. He didn't like nursing home rules because he has never had to live by anybody's rules except his own. When he could finally get around with a walker he couldn't walk the halls without an aid hanging onto his belt so he felt like his ability to get stronger with walking exercise was being restricted. The nursing home has to have those rules. Any fall is reported and is frowned on by the inspectors.

He is home now and home health comes in twice a week to bathe him and check him over. He kind of misses the nursing home because of the loss of the camaraderie with the nurse aids and other residents and he doesn't have the long halls to walk now that it's winter and he can't get outside. Assisted living in this area does not have any more exercise room than his own home.

So to sum it up, from what my sis found in this area, assisted living is cheaper than nursing home only if the resident or residents can take care of themselves pretty much all the time. If home health has to come in part of a day every day of the week the costs will rack up to be almost as much as the nursing home depending on where the nursing home is and what they provide.
I would think some or all newer assisted living facilities might have an exercise room but I don't know for sure. There are lots of variables out there. Facilities vary greatly. We found that out last summer. Somewhere in a medicare website there is a care facility rating and an in home care rating but I've forgotten where it is exactly. Jim

I should add, since my sibs and I just went through all this and learned a little: Some Asstd facilties are "A La Carte". Meaning you pay a basic rent or care fee and then pick what you need and pay for each additional service, ie, a bath =so much, laundry= so much, and on. Where my folks are is all inclusive, one price, everything is provided. The trade off is that if you're in better shape you may pay for things you don't always need, and vice versa. As to being "indigent" or broke so the state pays, When or if that happens you go to a "nursing home" not an asstd living facility. Having money means HAVING A CHOICE. My folks happened to be the second ones in a brand new place in a great town and neighborhood. When you're broke you go where there's an opening and it may not be the best place.

For all those who's veteran fathers have passed and your mothers are still with us, there are VA benefits for them. We just found that out three years after my veteran father passed, it sure helps mom. Jim

Also, talk with social services and find out what the rules are. An attorney will know, but I'll bet you may get different info. My mom was in assisted living for about 5 years before she passed. I was her power of everything, and she (I) paid her own way. Sometimes it was nice to be able to hire and fire anyone needed. It was "her" money. A big help to you is if it is medically necessary that your parents no lomger live independently at home. If so, you can deduct the assisted living expenses as a medical expense from income taxes. This reduced mom's tax liability to nearly zero which was a big help. A letter and/or doctor's records from the facility stating it is a medical necessity, meaning they cannot live and function safely in their home, should be included in the tax returns to cover yourself. That's what we did.

One of my retired co-worker and his wife has been
in an assisted living facility for the last 3 years. He's blind and his wife has dementia. He's a WW2 vet and both are in their 90's. He's trying to get assistance from the VA, but isn't having much luck. Cost is between $4000-$5000 per month for each of them. All of their savings have been used & their home is being sold. Both get federal retirement checks. I think when all
your money is used Medicaid will kick in. Hal

Quote: My Father is in an assisted living home right now. His care is right at $4500 per month plus Doctor and meds. His Medicare helps with the Doctors and meds. So his pension money, social security, and family pay for his assisted living cost,not the Federal government

Oh, and I should add, two parents cost quite a bit more than $4500.

Failing to plan ahead costs a LOT of money.

15 or so years ago, the elder care of my two Uncles and my Mom and Dad cost their estates over $400,000.00, which I wrote the checks for, as I was the only heir, plus had POA for them while they were alive.

They were "old school" and figured it was proper to pay their own way.

Trouble is, they never realized time had moved on, and costs had progressed, and just what that was going to cost!

My Wife's Grandpa was in the rest home at the same time, and, as he had no assets, so there was no cost to his "estate", or the family, and he got the same care.

Probably too late for the situation of the OP, but the rest of us REALLY need to stop and think about such things!

John , At this late stage I am going to step out on a limb and say No, depending on your parents circumstances!
1st-?, Do they Own Real property ie a Ranch or a Farm ...."other" than a Frame House in town at the corner of 4th & Pecan.
That would need to be protected so it can be passed on to Children or other Beneficiaries !!!
IF NOT
and the House is nothing special, No other children need it for a home, Has no real significance other Sign it over and let it go!
IF SO....
An Insurance Policy would have been needed to Protect it and other properties from being used up for pmt for ones Long Term Care!
2nd ?, What can you do? Your options
! Spend Down 1/2 of Estate for the care of that person...in Community Property States Like Texas!
1/2 for Wife, 1/2 for Husband.

Deed it all to a Love One, Become penniless on Paper ...
BUT,
It REQUIRES this to be done 5yrs prior to that person needing LTC! At this point the State will take care of you on the State's Nickel This Is as Legal as Legal can Be!

Children cost share with Mom & Dad, or other Siblings for the care.

Talk to the VA and see what they will do for the parent that has military Benefits and what other Options are available for the Spouse! IF ANY!

If any other Real Properties are owned can they Generate Income to help off set any reoccurring monthly LTC!

Lasty, Close down the House, Use Mom & Dads Income (SS pmts, Pensions, investment MDRs) to pay for LTC.

John I have Describe the basic options available as I know here in Texas. I am afraid the options are limited at this late date, Waiting to enroll in some sort of LTC policy usually has disastrous outcomes.

I am a 21 yr Ins Agent here in Texas, I have personally sat down with Couples, had a plan of attack for the LTC that would be needed later on, And have their children, Stop it all, Cuss Me, Call Me everything in the Book that is ugly and Mean Because they thought I was Selling them something their Parents Do Not Need, Only later to learn the Disastrous out comes after one or both of them needed LTC of some sort and the estate was No Longer what it once was or a 0 balance was left and the House had to signed over the the state
Hope this Helps,
Later,
John A.

John B- Below I posted a link to an article I just read about LTC insurance and if it is worth the investment. Good article but, be sure to read the comments after the article. Those comments are from people that have experienced the effects and they post some informative insights.

HTH
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