My Mom is the 24/7 caregiver for my Dad who is dealing with dementia. My Mom needs assistance. Where do I start?

If your dad requires 24/hour care he wouldn't be eligible for assisted living, he'd need a nursing home and you do not have to have a Dr.'s "prescription", note, or anything else to place your dad in a facility. You can do that on your own once you find one you like.

Not knowing what kind of assets your parents have or if they have a house or retirement funds or savings there's no way to say how your mom will pay for it. If your mom can't afford a nursing home she can spend down her assets (usually by hiring caregivers for the person, in this case your dad) so your dad will be eligible for Medicaid which will pay for the nursing home but that leaves your mom in a precarious position. It's not as simple as 1/2 of their money going towards a facility and your mom being able to keep 1/2. There's much, much more to it. I agree with ba8alou, consult an elder care attorney.

depending upon what your parents level of assets is, you might want to consult an elder care attorney in collaboration with deveoping a care plan

You start with dad's MD. He is the one who makes recommendation for a nursing home or memory care. Then you search for the right facility. Go up to the Search Site box and type in their city and state. A lot of information pops up. A good facility will help you with a benefits consultant who can lead you through paperwork for VA or Medicaid. Go up to the Money and Legal tab and click on Paying for Care, more info there too.