Thank you for your article. I agree, not having a POA or AD is a big hindrance. Just trying to get 5 years of statements from one of my father's banks is complicated, and he has two banks he deals with. My father is already in a nursing home on hospice, and I am supposed to be gathering this massive amount of information. I've been able to accomplish very little in two months. Although the hospice agency offered to help, I thought I could at least find some information on my own. The best eldercare lawyer in the area is a member of the hospice agency's advisory board, not exactly a neutral party. Add to that the fact that my father doesn't seen able to agree to a POA or to at least share where I can find some of the information they're asking for (birth certificates, my mother was born in Germany), marriage certificate, a will, life insurance policy, income tax statements or even if he has done his taxes in the last 5 years). The only required information I found so far was my mother's death certificate. I would at least feel better if I could accomplish one thing, maybe get the 5 years of statements on his bank account. When I call the bank, I can't get a human being. Any advice?

so much stuff to do, they make it really hard on U like it isn't hard enough to take care of an Elder

Heard that President Obama is trying to make it a 10 year look back. That should be fun if it gets passed. Good luck to all.

Neglected to say there is a 5yr, not 3 yrs, look back at all records of giving& paying. Can't give away assets in this 5Yr lookback.Pay out for funeral plots, get teeth done to eliminate excess of $2,000 to qualify for ALTCS, unless U can pay over $3,000 a month( Think it was a month- U can check it out by researching Assisted living/ nursing homes

This article could save my insanity. Will start all the stuff they suggest today. Mom is going to be 92 in November and my husband is on his 55th Chemo treatment for Pancreatic Cancer. I feel overwhelmed with him and my Mom has dementia and is in a memory care unit. I don't have time to take a bath.Thank you so much for this article.

Great article. Perfect answers for this POA caregiver daughter. Still feel beyond overwhelmed

Thank you Tony Rovere for taking your time and energy to help the rest of us. I know it won't be easy and I may not be able to reach the 5 yr lookback. but with your outline in this article I am half way home. I can do all of the above.
Thanks again. Daisy

Don't try on your own.

Get help from Area Agency on Aging. Get and retain a elder affairs attorney who has been there.

Been in the middle of this task for months !!

here is part of my verification task list

Birth Certificates for each of you;

Social Security Cards for each of you,

Copies of all health insurance cards (front and back) for each of you;

Premium bills for all health insurances;

Three years of ALL bank or financial statements.

If any accounts have been closed in the past 3 years, need six months of statements leading up to the closing of the account as well as the last statement showing a zero balance.

Checking account statements should include copies of processed checks.

Caseworker may request statements going back further than two years;

All life insurance policy information including verification of current cash surrender value;

All information regarding any pre-paid burial contracts/plots;

Stock, annuity, bond, savings bonds, investment information.

current account statements as they become available;

Verification of income including pensions.

Vehicle information: title, remove applicants name
Work with auto insurance co re registration and title

Two years of most recent tax returns.

Get help dealing with joint assets

Beware of who are your beneficiaries, if you die will he lose his qualifications

Have you a separate banking accounts for your finances?

Work with auto insurance co re registry

Been taking care of my parents since July 2012. Then found out that my husband has pancreatic cancer stage 4 diagnosed May 6th 2014. He is on 18th Chemo treatment so I had to back off from my hard to take care of parents. Want to start getting this information together for our daughter just in case anything happens. Thanks for the article!!

Think that this article is a wake up call to us all. We should get this information ready for our own children so that it will be easy for them to complete this process. We, especially the people on this site don't want to do to your children what our parents are doing to us now. I think we should start collecting this information in a big 3 ring binder starting NOW!!

crumbs - the vast, vast majority of social workers are genuinely nice human biengs who genuinely want to help. Most of them are hopelessly overworked and want to take on a case where they'll need to assume guardianship like they want an exta belly button. If you find yourself with one who seems real controlling or less than compassionate, look for another. Maybe get in touch with someone in yrou area who has needed help form that worker or agency and see what their experience was.

Even the Medicaid people will treat you as well as they can within the limits of the law if you are considerate of them; do be aware that they have to be on the lookout for people trying to scam the system and keep big piles of money for themselves and they have no way to know right up front if you are one of those people or not. If they say you have to do something or provide something, feel free to ask them how to go about it, where to fax or mail anything, and thank them for any helpful advice in the process.

Great article. Thanks so much for sharing this information because I know I'm headed for the same process, but I think it might even be more difficult for me because we are talking about a spouse rather than a parent. You are so right though, we have to start collecting all of that data and then make an appointment with our attorney. We paid a very reasonable amount to him about 18 months ago and he will provide whatever services we need as things progress without more fees. I think he is going to tell us to separate everything we are on together, like bank accounts, car note, etc. A big hill to climb but no alternatives.

Also when people talk about social workers, I have a fear of working with them because a person once told me her story and it was a horror story of a state taking over guardianship of her loved one and more, so I'm scared to death of letting anyone else help. Any stories out there on this topic?

Good article. I went through a similar process and it was very hard. One thing you need to remember though is that in the time they take to decide if you're parent is eligible for Medicaid, the nursing home bill is adding up for that 5 months! If they do not approve it, then someone will have to pay the bill! This was a huge stress on me!
I'd like to know how others have handled it. You have to pay the nursing home any money your parent has before Medicaid will consider them. What happens if they don't approve it and your parent has a $50,000 or more bill?

@SharonB If it comes from the business office then they are familiar with the local Medicaid rules and undoubtedly have experience in dealing with many people in your situation. While I personally did not do it this way, if this is the recommendation from the business office then it should be a good idea.

I was told by the nursing home business office that I could spend down by paying in advance.

@SharonB It might be. It depends upon who you spoke to at the nursing home. Was it the business office?

My mother is in a medicaid nursing home. I was told by the nursing home that I could prepay for her care a few months in advance in order to spend down her savings so that she would be medicaid eligible. Has anyone had any experience with this? Would this be a good idea?

@Deberjunie. It sounds like you only started the process of applying, You will have a long way to go and in addition there were plenty of information that will be asked of you after you send the initial application in.

Medicaid will ask for this clarifying information.

Also, there is currently a 5-year look back period. I am personally very surprised this wasn't mentioned to you.

You either need to have a sit down with this social worker and ask her to go over the look back with you, get another social worker to assist you, or consider hiring a specific elder law attorney to take you through the process.

I find it a little confusing. During a recent visit to the hosp my sister and I ask to see a social worker who directed us to the medi-cal worker. We live in ca. The worker told us mom had too much money in her bank account to be eligible and to basically do what's discussed here, "spend down". She told us if we had access to moms account to buy whatever was needed for her, pay off bills etc.. So that's what we did. In a couple days she will be eligible according to the worker. Now hearing all this talk about "look back" and waiting periods I'm worried. Our mom is total care and it's getting too hard for us to to manage. I myself am disabled and my younger sister works. We have other siblings but they have made themselves scarce thru out all this and basically I don't even consider them family anymore due to their selfish behavior and refusal to help us. But back to the " look back" issue, I'm wondering, worrying, why we weren't told about this. Any day she will be eligible as we got her account down to where she would be. Should I be worried about some future obstacle because frankly, I cannot keep this up. I'm physically unable to. That's not even going into the total burnout I'm feeling, the exhaustion, frustration, sleepless nights, etc.. I'm 62 on disability with severe arthritis and a seizure disorder. I'm alone with her after my younger sister goes to work. I would like some feedback. Thanks

The first NH my dad went to said after the first 20 days that medicare paid for he would be moved to a medicaid bed. When the time came they said no medicaid bed were available and they couldn't say if when one would be available but would put him on a waiting list. $7, 000.+ later they told me he was being discharged and I had to pay the balance before I could take him out.
The county nursing home had an opening but I had to put down a deposit. Even though he is medicaid pending. Now in less than two weeks they have gone thru the $5, 250.00 deposit on various expences and I have to come up with more money for October room charges. I think I'm going to need a lawyer and that's more money. Only in Illinois :(

@nanakerr1 That would be a question for Gabriel Heiser. He is one of the AgingCare experts. Look for him in the forum.

And also, the nursing home where my mother went accepted her on a "Medicaid pending" status, meaning they took care of her...and didn't get paid...until she was approved by Medicaid.

There wasn't a nursing home in your area that could do that?

I am only 6 weeks into the application process for medicaid. I have paid over $17, 000.00 out of my pocket for my dads nursing home bills, hospital, doctors etc. Just in a 6 weeks span of time. I had to pay the county nursing home up front before they would take my dad with medicaid pending. I'm scared to death that if it takes 6 months how in the world will I pay it? And is there any chance I get reimbursed for any of the thousands of dollars I have paid?

Thanks TonyRovere, but I wish it will be that easy. Medicaid facilities reserve their right to accept their residents. If they have to deal with sundowning, anxiety, wandering...or any dementia related behavior in the record they just say "sorry we can not accept him"...That is exactly what I have been told. The Social Services is "assisting" me in finding a place, but I am not too sure if they are really willing to vacate one bed. This Medicaid facilities in my area do not want to deal with dementia. ALZ and Memory Care facilities, as far as I know, do not accept Medicaid.

nerie86,

If you have already been approved for Medicaid then it should not be a problem to contact the admissions office of a facility closer to you, explain the situation (give them the Medicaid approval number) and see if they can assist with the transfer.

Great article! I was suprised at how much info Medicaid had gathered behind the scenes already when we applied for my Dad the second time. I would never have tracked down all the various insurances they found without the Internet - I had to sort out several that had changed names and figure out which policies were which, and then document no face value or cash it in. I knew from experience in other arenas that you have to keep copies of everything you send in, a lot of things become lost and then unless you have documentation its as if you never sent them.

I have very little to add, with both results positive and negative. I had no problem with Medicaid, the nursing home took care of everything. After two months of waiting, and after the approval, I returned them my husband's 2-month SS income. The negative: I had no choice for a nursing home. I was told by the hospital..."here is where he is going" (by ambulance) ...that was it. I even had to look for the address in Internet. One year has passed by (October 18), and I am still looking to transfer him to a better and closer place. He is being denied at all Medicaid facilities. "Supposedly" the NH (Social Services) is helping me to find a place closer to home. No results so far. I must add I refer to Florida, (Jacksonville/Orange Park area). It's me again!! Saludos to all those beautiful people that have contributed to my previous concerns about my husband.

Sure is. I may try to find the book.

Scared, I have read his book and I have to say it is terrific...in fact the information about the $525,000 house exclusion above came from it. It truly is an eye opener.

Didn't know about this area of the site. Thx, Tony.

Cmagnam,

The fact that the nursing home says that Medicaid will make the payments is a good thing but I understand your concern and want to clarify the situation.

I am not a lawyer so I think the best thing for you to do in this instance is to make a post in the Elder Law section of this forum. Garbiel Kaiser is an attorney far more qualified than me to answer this form of question. Here is his link:

https://www.agingcare.com/Expert/K-Gabriel-Heiser