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My mom is in a nursing home and as of June, all of her income except $50 a month goes to the nursing home. She had a small amount in her checking account which was needed to pay for the nursing home contributions from December through May. She has nothing left. We have cleared out her apartment, but she now has a bill from the hospital before she went into the nursing home for $800. She also has a remaining electric bill from her apartment of approximately $200. Should I just pay these for her out of my own money or call the companies and let them know she has nothing left and is unable to pay?

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I would call and tell them that she is unable to pay.
She has no money and is in a Nursing home.
If you pay these bills from your own account it might set a presidence where you may be required to continue to pay her bills.
I suppose you could ask for a payment plan so your Mom could pay the bills from her "account" tell them that she can not afford any more than $5.00 a month

You are not "required" to pay her debts..unless your name is on any of the accounts or when she was in the hospital you signed that you would be responsible for payment.
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I had the same issue with my mom. There is actually a federal law to protect children from their parents debts. So you are by no means responsible for paying her bills. *Unless you are on the account or sign a document saying you'll be responsible. In both cases here, I'd bet you can call and explain the situation. If you are applying for medicaid it will most likely cover the $800 hospital bill. The electric bill would probably be written off or a hold would be put on the account. Is she were to ever have an electric bill in her name again she may have to setup payment for the overdue amount.
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Pay them if you feel so inclined, but otherwise let them go. They're pretty uncollectible.
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It is just me, but I would pay at least the electric bill. My husband says I am the straightest person he knows, as far as being honest and paying what is owed. Most especially, as if you don't pay the electric bill, someone else might have to.
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Call the companies and let them know. You are not responsible for these outstanding accounts and you shouldn't feel obliged to meet them out of your own pocket; but it would still be courteous to inform the creditors so that they can at least get their records straight. They may want to arrange some sort of token repayment plan but in the circumstances it's hardly worth their trouble, and I'd avoid agreeing on your mother's behalf to anything that sounds at all complicated.
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You are not responsible for your mothers debt, unless the bills where in your name also.
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#1 Isn't she on Medicaid?
#2 If so, why are YOU thinking about paying the bills?
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Children are NOT responsible for their parent's bills.
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If your name was on your mother's bank account for check cashing only, that's OK, you are not responsible for her debts because it is-was-still her money, not yours. I made darn sure when my name went on mom's bank account that I wouldn't be responsible for any of her debts.
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Ask the hospital for a detailed bill to see if everything is legitimate or should have been covered by Medicare. After that you are not responsible. As far as the electric company is concerned simply inform them of your mother's situation and forget it they can't touch you or Mom for that matter. Both bills will probably just be written off it would cost them more to try and collect the money than the bills are worth.
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