My mother has Alzheimer's as well as broken hip; the costs are taking a HUGE toll. Anything we can do?

yes, igloo, just hated to call you out - thankfully, I guess, no farm or ranch land here and my uncle that did never had to deal with Medicaid or nursing home or anything like that, just went to bed one night and that was it, one left, guess will see what happens with him - not sure about foundation issues but had lot water issues that guess could be surprised haven't led to that, grew up with the excavator's sister whose dad was as well, he supposed to go look at it, don't know if would be better in this weather and snow, wait till melts or dries - the area's built up all around since they moved, literally, everybody else built up their lot before they built; they bought the cheapest place, the only one that wasn't so it's now the low spot with the drainage all messed up all over, so...

but dealing with exactly what you're talking about - most of the homes in the area are newer so no way are they good comps, just so happens that right now (unless - I need to check - it's sold) one of the best for him is for sale - there have been a few things the same - had to been - like each has had a new heating system put in - why? because the ones they had were so old they finally quit and new flooring has been put in the one for sale - dad's bathrooms have been renovated - why? because both commodes started leaking and ruined them - the one to the bedroom so bad - long story but nobody went in there for a year after he passed away in there - that ruined closet and 1/2 the bedroom requiring new subfloor having to be put in, new hardwood for whole house bought but feel that's overkill for his house and comps - other house just got laminate but this has already been bought now and can't be returned - long story - so...sell? replace with laminate? let go as is - what to do.....but thankfully not having, was able to skirt the whole Medicaid/nh issue for us, just dealing with the aftermath now

Deb - your referring to my answer? Right? Bad assessor value is a huge issue for elderly. Ages ago, my mom showed me quite giddy with excitement the tax assessor value of her home, which as I looked up and saw her never renovated ever circa 1950 kitchen was totally whack. My moms area had lots of major to the studs renovations so the comps on all those types of sales threw all values off. If its wrong, like too too high, it doesn't matter per se, because their taxes are fixed due to homestead or elderly exemptions. So if assessors shows 250k or 750k it doesn't matter too much.

But if they need Medicaid, it suddenly becomes very critically important. Cause if too high, medicaid makes them ineligible (like for TX it's 545k assessor value); or if its sold to family for under value, family gets a transfer penalty for gifting inquiry or blowback from meddling family as to terms of sale; or if your dealing with MERP, it's valid appraised worth is critically important to establish whether or not estate recovery is cost effective and if so to set benchmark $ of what the recoverabke estate asset is that claims or leins are to be settled from.

Personally I'd suggest get the inspection first. If there's foundation issues, then a residential engineers report - these can be hard to get as most do commercial property. Then both are given to appraiser to use if need be. Fees vary by sq footage. If there farm or ranch land, that's a separate document.

most concise explanation of this I've seen; going through same thing with my dad's house

Antonio - you know your situation...that the tax assessor value has property value to be high (over 550k) and for Medicaid rules for your state it's over the exempt asset maximum....probably is going to be more common as a Medicaid eligibility issue accross the US in the future & property values rise.

My suggestion is:
first find out from medicaid IF your dad as the CS is still living in the house IF the value of the house should not be counted at all for the Medicaid application. You know moms application could be going through the system as an individual application so house value is counted.

If there has been no mention or paperwork or set aside of moms income to go for dad as his CSRA or MMNA, then her application is being processed "individual" application. CSRA -community spouse resource allowance; MMNA mininumim monthly maintenance allowance - states call it one of these names. I think of them as kinda like alimony for the non NH spouse. Dad should get it from moms income. Amounts vary by state, like TX has MMNA at $ 2,900 mo, so in theory a NH spouse with 3k income could only have to do a copay of $ 100 mo to Nh with spouse getting $ 2,900 MMNA.

Also the house value coukd be whack. If the ax assessor value is totally not realistic as there are decads of delayed repairs; it's not comparable be to houses being sold in your area, etc, then you go and get an appraisal done. Appraiser needs to be licensed and registered however it's legal for your state. If there's a lot of issues with the house, then perhaps get it inspected first (again registered & licensed) and the inspection report is provided to the appraiser for them to do a very through appraisal on the property. The new appraisal could show property to be below tax assessor & could be low enough to be under the medicaid threshold for property value as well.

Also you file a challenge to tax assessor with the appraisers report whenever your county sends out the proposed tax bill for this year. It is not unusual for old run down unrenovated homes to have only their land value plus 10/20% improvement value for thier assessor value. But you have to provide legal documentation to get this done.

Hello Antono1152, Sorry to hear of your situation, Mine was similar. I took my Grandmother to Transylvania for better more affordable care. Check out our story at Angelsrespite. Wishing you all the best, Dave

They do not have Medicare. My dad does not want to change her doctor, who has been so wonderful and caring to us. We are trying to get him to change his mind; even so Medicare does cover the Alzheimer's/dementia care.

She is actually recovering from the hip injury, but she still cannot walk unassisted. When the insuance expired, but facility wanted to discharge her, but we filed a grievance because there was no discharge plan. Both my parents receive Social Security benefits; we were told that because of their SS Benefits and their house value (California property is overvalued), my mother do not qualify for MediCal. Even if she recovers from the hip, she still has the dementia and needs long-term care; neither my dad nor I (who works full time) cannot provide.

Your dad is referred to as the "community spouse". Medi-cal will put a lien against the title of the home, but dad continues to be able to live there during his lifetime.

Medicate covers rehab for 20 days fully and up to 100 days with a copay if the patient is progressing.

The real question is, is she making progress? Or does she need long term cusodial care now? Does the facility she's in accept Medi-cal?

Their home is a protected asset under Medicaid. Talk to an eldercare attorney. On your parents' dime not yours.