I think it's a smart move, especially if you take that money and put it into a saving acct of some kind for either her or you and your family. Medicaid can't call it gifting.
Obviously, ignore that first response. It's certainly reasonable, and in my opinion should be expected, for a parent to contribute financially to the expense of their care, especially when it's being provided by their child. The question is, is it best (in the eyes of Medicaid) for that contribution to be in the form of rent to the caregiver or would it be better to actually "invoice" for services or have Mom pay specific utility bills or other expenses? Those are questions for an expert. It would be worth the price of sitting down with an elder care attorney for an hour to make sure you have your 'ducks in a row'.
Not sure about rent reimbursement relative to Medicaid, but I do know for a fact that if you are caring for her, you can actually charge her for your services and that is totally legit, but you do need to file this on your income tax returns. So maybe you should consider it as 'caregiving services rendered," if she, indeed does require your assistance for daily living.
Please ignore the first response. My mother INSISTS on paying us rent (granted, it is half of what she was paying when she lived in her apartment, and it barely covers the gas in my car that I have to use to bring her to the doctors, pick up her meds, etc. etc. but it does help) - but she wouldn't take no for an answer. Now that she is in an SNF, she still insists on paying (because all of her things are in my house), but we have been setting it aside for "just in case" money. Once her stay in the SNF becomes permanent, that rent money will stop coming as they will take all but $35. of her social security check as her "copay". To answer your question, no, they won't make you "pay it back" - if she weren't living in your home she'd be paying rent elsewhere, correct?
Without knowing the particular situation, that answer sounds a little harsh. I don't know the answer to the original question, but the person asking the question could be out of a job, retired, or in some other circumstance, where a rent payment from Mom made their living situation feasible. And it could be that Mom wanted to pay rent to feel more independent.
It's certainly reasonable, and in my opinion should be expected, for a parent to contribute financially to the expense of their care, especially when it's being provided by their child.
The question is, is it best (in the eyes of Medicaid) for that contribution to be in the form of rent to the caregiver or would it be better to actually "invoice" for services or have Mom pay specific utility bills or other expenses? Those are questions for an expert. It would be worth the price of sitting down with an elder care attorney for an hour to make sure you have your 'ducks in a row'.
So maybe you should consider it as 'caregiving services rendered," if she, indeed does require your assistance for daily living.