Mom is in an excellent AL & doing great. She has adjusted well since last summer & enjoys the perks of living there. I've handled her finances for the past 3 years, including sale of family home, getting her on V. A. Aid & attendance. I also got her on the Medicare Help with prescription costs. Between those additions to her Railroad retirement pension (from Dad) which is ever so slightly more than she would get from S. S., we can meet her monthly expenses by pulling $400/month from her savings. At this rate (praying no other large medical, etc.), she has enough to last 4 years. She will turn 88 this September, has A-Fib heart, slightly diabetic & mild dementia. Her vitals at checkups are always better than mine. She gets around decent with a walker. So, here is my concern. When we first got her moved to the AL, her health had gone through a few years of tough times so we figured she wouldn't outlast her funds. Now we wonder! And I want to know what to expect when that day comes & we will have to apply for Medicaid and move her to a NH. Can anyone enlighten me how to prepare? I honestly don't think I could go through all that stress again if it involves as much as what I've had to do thus far.. from feeling blindsided by the flood of paperwork that needed to be filed, weeding through the questions of who to call for what department, and all the legwork it took. I am 61, live 2 1/2 hour drive away from her AL, am exhausted, out of shape, diabetic, degenerating neck & spine, have to attend P. T. every 2 weeks just to keep from having debilitating daily headaches. I am currently on more prescriptions than mom. Well enough whining.. .any suggestions how I can get things lined up ahead of time?? I am very much aware of the "rules" as far as minimum assets, the 5 year look back, etc. Now...is there anything else I might not be aware of or can begin at this point? Thank you.
