My parents and grandparents have lived rent free in the home that I own since 2000. All have passed on except for my mom and I. I am behind in her rent payments to her memory care facility. I have 2 brothers that do nothing. Is it fair that I have to sell my home to take care of her?
I would secure an elder law attorney. They can help with the application and if it's required to get Medicaid while in a facility, they would complete a Miller Trust. This would take her income each month, provide it to the state, the remaining cost for your mother's monthly bill to the facility is then covered by Medicaid. Your mother would then get a small amount of her mother income in which is used for whatever she would want and need (this amount varies from state to state).
This is something that a facility would know about and would assist you with. The only reason I would guess they would suggest something other than, would be if they are private pay only and are not Medicare/Medicaid certified.
If they aren't certified to have Medicaid residents, they should have had a discussion with you about if you're able to find ways to keep her there and pay for it or if not, assist you with a transfer to a location in which is certified to take Medicaid.
I would start conversations with a SHIIP counselor (Senior Health Insurance Information Program). They can help you know what options there are for coverage given this need for Medicaid and knowing that your mom is in a facility.
Whenever you deal with the blood-suckers that are the LTC racket, you must always insist on a written, itemized bill every month. Even if the resident's care bill is being paid in full every month, the facility will make sure it's not enough by adding costs and services if that resident is holding onto assets like real estate, investments, or insurance policies. They will demand every cent a person has even if it's not owed unless a family refuses. If you're the POA you can make demands of your own and should. No one has to pay more than what is rightfully owed.
I'm sorry to say if you don't legally own the house and your mother does, it will have to be listed for sale. It can be kept listed indefinitely if you're the one in charge of selling it. You may be able to squat there for a very long time paying no bills and saving up money.
Please get yourself to a lawyer one that specializes in real estate law and see if you'd be able to purchase the house and if you'd have to pay fair-market value for it. Don't take the word of the memory care facility on anything. They lie and cheat. Talk to a lawyer. First consultations are usually free.
2. Your home is your home. If her name is not on the mortgage/deed/title then it is your home you do not have to sell it to pay for her care.
Now if it is her home then yes it gets sold to pay for her care.
Did you sign the MC papers as the person financially responsible for Moms rent? Or did you sign it as her POA which means you represented her. If Mom can't pay her own way, its time for Longterm care with Medicaid paying.
What in the world made you think that you were the one responsible to pay for her care? And I sure hope that you didn't sign any paperwork saying that you would be responsible for her care.
What needs to happen now is that you need to apply for Medicaid for your mom, and if her current facility doesn't take Medicaid(though most do after months of self pay)then you'll have to move her to a facility that accepts Medicaid.
If you in fact "own" the home of which you speak, don't you dare sell it, but if in fact it is in your moms name, then selling it may be an option to continue paying for her care. But I would see if she qualifies for Medicaid first.
This is an add on from my original post. I just read your other post where you state that in fact you're living in your parents home and are just making the mortgage payments, which as you know does NOT make you the owner. So yes, the house should be sold to pay for your moms care as it's her house/money, and it should go towards her care.
There are exceptions with Medicaid where someone can remain in the home in question if there's proof that the person remaining in the home did in fact care for the owner for at least 2 years. But you'll have to ask the Medicaid office about all of that.
please check into it
If mom is a citizen, theres medicaid. Some states pay mc/al for that (ny, mn) whereas in California, it’s mostly ltc/nh. Either way, though, having a roof over one’s head plus three meals a day is pretty much guaranteed.
The only reason i can think of why family ends up paying is if the person isn’t a citizen. Even California had to quit paying for new immigrant applicants who needed nh as we were and are running out of money doing so all by ourselves. If this is her situation, consider the benefits that she is eligible for there.
If it's your home and you are the sole owner, then it's simply a question of what you're willing to sacrifice to provide your mom the care she needs. I'm so sorry you're going through this alone.
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