"Spending down" to Medicaid good or bad?

Hi: The entire point of my book "How to Protect Your Family's Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Medicaid Secrets" is to help people in your mother's situation from needlessly "spending down" their assets. There are many ways to conserve that money so that it would be available to benefit your mother in future years, but the sooner you act the more of her money you can protect. Because there are many options to consider, I recommend you review the book. I am sure you will find many practical and helpful suggestions there. Best of luck with everything!

My grandfather was able to 'pay his own way' due to very astute money management by my dad (his son in law). At 96 (!) he finally ran out of money, but at that time he needed more than assisted living. The really nicer ones (NH's) that do allow/qualify for Medicaid often have waiting lists. It is much better to be proactive and find out approximately what the waiting time is as well as how far his money will probably last in AL so that you don't have to 'take what you can get' if a nursing home is the only option. He lived to be 99. The last 3-4 years he was unable to get out of his wheelchair and was severely diabetic. His only thrill in life by then was eating, so his diabetes was very bad and he was very heavy. But hey! He was married three times (outlived them all, including his first wife, my grandmother) and practically made it to 100. In the end he didn't know who anybody was, either. Life should be enjoyed and can be with some proper planning.

About the Veterans Administration program mentioned by Gayle189, I put in an application for Mom a year ago this past April and still don't have a decision. Asked for help from one of our U.S. Senators and heard back that his office had sent a query on our behalf and they might get a response in 45 to 60 days. Seems like the VA needs a caregiver.

if your mother is a veteran or spouse of a veteran she would be eligible for aid and attendance which would supplement her income....if that isn't an option I would suggest having a caregiver come in and help her until she is down $2000 savings then apply for Medicaid waivers until she qualifies for a NH ...if her income is under $2000 a month she can qualify for the waivers...if her savings is under $2000 she qualifies for Medicaid

My mother-in-law is 92 and is blind from macular degeneration. She also suffers from the early stages of dementia. Otherwise, she is healthy and will likely live to be 100. We moved her from an assisted living facility in Florida (expensive) to a facility here in Vermont (very, very expensive) to be closer to us. We are her only family. She has income and savings enough to pay for the assisted living facility for about three more years. At that time, we will have to apply to Medicaid to cover her living expenses.
When looking at assisted living facilities, be sure to question whether or not they will accept Medicaid. Many will simply not accept it, and some will require that she pay her own way for a specified amount of time before accepting Medicaid. The facility where my mother-in-law lives has a specified number of rooms that are eligible for Medicaid recipients, and one of those rooms must be available in order for her to remain there under Medicaid. She is currently in a private room, and Medicaid will require that she share a room with someone, so she will have to move to another room.
While your mom may not like the idea of assisted living, I think that she will have to accept the fact that she can no longer care for herself, and that she may be endangering her health and well-being by living alone. A little nudging may be in order from you and any other family members that can provide some moral support for you. Take her to visit a few different facilities and let her be a part of the decision making. Again, be sure to ask if they will accept Medicaid before making any commitments.

Whirlpool - so mom is mom still living in her home? or is she in an IL community? and you are looking at AL, correct? How old is she and what would you realistically say is her ability to do her ADL's? like can she on her own get up, get dressed and then walk (or with a walker) go to a central area for meals and activities?

Whirlpool, It would probably be a good idea to read Gabriel Heiser's book, "How to Protect Your Assets From Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Secrets of Medicaid", as mentioned here on this site. Then, talk to others who have "spent down" their assets in order to qualify for Medicaid.

Thank you all! Gabriel Houser I'll sure take a look at your book it would be wonderful to be able to save some of her assets.

Igloo, yes my mother is still living in her home in her seventies. She is doing her ADL's, but with difficulty - she can walk with a walker but often uses just her cane instead but it's really not enough IMO anymore. She's deeply antisocial so I suspect the wonderful activities that AL offers would not interest her, but regular help with meds, cleaning, laundry keeping her place safe to navigate is much needed.

Signmeister, great suggestions definitely the direction I'm thinking in - I'll tell you though what my mother "has to accept" and refuses to would amaze you and most rational people. Still I will keep at it!

It's Heiser not Houser! Good lord I think my brain is becoming pickled by all this. The book looks very useful thanks for writing it.