If the MIL was the only person available to help this aunt and now the MIL can't do it anymore and there is no one else to care for the aunt, the aunt will have to go into a NH if she doesn't have the money to pay for professional caregivers. She will have to apply for Medicaid in order to pay for the nursing home.
If her "little money" is $2, 000 or less, and she has no other assets she will quickly qualify for Medicaid. Even if she own an home, she can still get M.A. and they will sell home & use that money to pay her bills. Someome must START the process by making contact with TN dept of Social SeServices or county Senior Services (different places might call it different names) but START something with them TODAY as benefits awarded on date of application being made.
If you're Aunt owns her own home and she is worried about losing her home, check this link out. elderlawanswers/protecting-your-house-after-you-move-into-a-nursing-home-6897 You don't have to sell the house or give it over to Medicaid in order to afford nursing home care.
Advocacy girl, medicaid always gets the house, unless there is a spouse living there, or a child under certain circumstances. There is no escaping it, within 5 years, it all gets scrutinized very closely. And actually people should be payingy their own way--otherwise we would all go down the tubes in less than one generation.
You don't have to sell the house or give it over to Medicaid in order to afford nursing home care.