My mother is 86, should she move to a nursing home if the cost is double what she earns and combined with savings would only last 4 years?

The average time someone lives in a nursing home is 835 days....so says Mr Google.

When she runs out of money Medicaid will be there. I would recommend a facility that that will transition her and allow her to stay there on Medicaid when the time comes. A meeting with an elder care attorney would be well worth it.

I agree to start with seeing an elder law attorney or Medicaid planner. Your mom should pick out a nice, reputable facility that has a continuum of care, from AL to MC to LTC, that accepts Medicaid. My MIL is on Medicaid as a resident in an excellent non-profit facility (Presbyterian Homes) which is on a lake and has beautiful grounds. She gets excellent care and even has a private room. So just help her do the legwork to find the right fit and she can have a great solution even on Medicaid.

A fall alert would be a smart safety device, one that doesn't require that she press a button but detects her positional status and alerts for her.

Also make sure she has all her legal ducks in a row (assigning PoA, creating an Advance Care Directive, and a Last Will). Wishing you all the best as you move through this process.

Have you had a needs assessment done? This will help you decide what is the most appropriate level of care.

She may find assisted living more in line with her needs.

Does she wear a fall alert system? That would be my 1st line of action, this will ensure that someone is notified immediately in case she falls if she faints.

Get with someone who can explain and help you plot out your mom's finances and learn how Medicaid will fit into the picture. An elder care attorney might be the best place to start.