If he is private pay No. If using Medicaid, yes. Medicaid requires that his Social Security check and any pension be turned over to the NH. This can be done by writing a check each month or allowing the NH to become his payee.
If your Dad us able to make this kind of a decision, he may not fit the criteria of needing 24/7 care. Him being able to do his ADLs will be a factor. Sounds like an Assisted Living or Memory Care would be better for him. But, they are private pay usually. You would need to see if your State Medicaid would pay for these.
That's basically how it works. He has to pay for it somehow. Unless he has money in the bank to spend first. My MIL and most people have their social security checks go directly to the nursing home.
In your profile, says he's 65. It breaks my heart when people have early onset dementia. My FIL had it - so very sad.
If your Dad us able to make this kind of a decision, he may not fit the criteria of needing 24/7 care. Him being able to do his ADLs will be a factor. Sounds like an Assisted Living or Memory Care would be better for him. But, they are private pay usually. You would need to see if your State Medicaid would pay for these.
In your profile, says he's 65. It breaks my heart when people have early onset dementia. My FIL had it - so very sad.
Good luck.