linausman, depending on the State programs, Medicaid might be able to send in a sitter for a couple hours per day. Unfortunately it would be too costly for the State to have someone go in while your sister is at work, such a program would bankrupt the State as it is the taxpayers who pay for this program along with Federal funds.
Yes, your Mom is responsible for her own bills.
Depending on how much care your Mom needs, if your Mom can qualify for Medicaid [each State has their own rules and regulations], Medicaid will help pay for full-time nursing home care. I realize for some households moving Mom to a nursing home isn't an option. Otherwise your sister would need to quit her job and became a 24-hour caregiver [thus, working 3 full-time shifts per day].
Contact your local Department of Aging and Disability Services. They can help you apply for the benefits and programs that she is eligible for. At the same time, you (someone) will need to contact Social Security to go through the process of becoming your Mom's representative so that you can discuss her financial and health matters otherwise you are going to get the runaround when you try to talk to medicare/medicaid. You'll need verification from her doctor of the dementia diagnosis, so find out who she has been seeing and talk to them about it so they know what you are trying to do. I believe Social Security will contact them but you might need a letter from the doctor going forward as you apply for services in her name. Good luck.
She owned a home, sold it 10 yrs ago. Lived on her SS. Now, all SS and VA goes for sitters while sister works. Will Medicaid pay for sitters? Could she qualify getting survivor VA benefits?
Yes, your Mom is responsible for her own bills.
Depending on how much care your Mom needs, if your Mom can qualify for Medicaid [each State has their own rules and regulations], Medicaid will help pay for full-time nursing home care. I realize for some households moving Mom to a nursing home isn't an option. Otherwise your sister would need to quit her job and became a 24-hour caregiver [thus, working 3 full-time shifts per day].
Where did Mom live prior to moving in with her daughter? How did she survive then?