Ok, I will be speaking with my Aunt on my father's side who had to put my Grandma (his mother) into a nursing home, plus I told my Grandma (my mom's mother) to put in a call to her attorney so we can sit down with him to get our questions answered, but thought I'd throw this up here for anyone who has gone, or is going through, this.

Yes, that's a huge run-on sentence.

Here is my dilemma.  My Grandma B. is 78 years old.  She currently resides at an appartment complex that is low income housing for the elderly.  Her rent is based off her SSI income and whatever assets she has.  In the near future (which could be anywhere from 2-7 years from now, unless she ends up in a wheelchair), we (I) will have to make the decision to put her into assisted living or a nursing home.  

Now I understand that the government can take everything she has in order to pay for the living quarters.  All my Grandma owns is $50,000 in her savings.  That's it.  From what I gather, they look back 5 years to see what assets you have, and if there is a lot that disappears (like if she withdrew it all in cash), she can end up being rejected for Medicaid or would end up with a large penalty in order to go into a home.  

The apartment manager at her complex told her also that her current rent would change (didn't say how much or up/down) because they too go off her income/assets.  He did say though that if she wanted to help "me" out with anything, that it should be in the form of things like groceries, bills, etc., so as not to have problems in the future with the transition.

Has anyone else had to go through this and am I hearing this all correctly?  My Grandma feels so bad now, she had intended that money to go to me after she passed on, but obviously that is not going to happen.

Oh, and forgot to add that a resident at the building mentioned to her to withdraw something like $500 cash a month and keep it in a safe at home.

Any help on this journey would be HUGELY appreciated!  I am overwhelmed, confused and just don't know where to start or what to do.

I never thought I'd end up being my Grandma's sole caregiver let alone her Power of Attorney.  My mom was supposed to have been alive for that.

Thanks!
mel

My Grandmother was home on assisted living for a long long time, then to an elderly asisted living arangement.  Her home was owned by her son.  He bought it from them when they were in their 60's and they couldn't afford to the taxes anymore.  He let them stay their free of charge.  Thus no assests.  My grandmother gave all her belongings away right before she moved into the elderly assisted living home.  This way she was able to enjoy seeing people get the stuff they wanted and not have to worry about the kids fighting over her stuff.

Teds Mom also sold her home to her 10 kids evenly split.  When she turned 65.  Thus she has no assets to interfer need she to go into a nursing home.

My Grandfather had a stroke and needed nursing home care until the day he died.  He was in there for years.  They owned a home and had thousands in the bank.  They were forced to sell the home and fork over all the savings inorder to place him in the nursing home . 

I have heard that you can get around the savings problem by giving it away a month x number of years before she ever needs the nursing home.  Best bet is to talk to an attorney.

Best of luck.

Sorry to hear this,
"Contact an Elderly Benefit Specialist through the county aging commission or office of Independent Living Centers (for persons age 60 and above and their families). To find the specialist in your area, go to dhs.wisconsin.gov/aging/genage/benspecs.htm or call 1-800-362-3002.
The Wisconsin Coalition of Independent Living Centers (for persons under age 60 and their families). To find the center in your area, call toll-free at 1-800-690-6665 or (608) 251-9151 (V/TTY).
Hospital and nursing home staff.
Member Services at 1-800-362-3002 or 711 (TTY).
Your local county or tribal agency. To get the address and telephone number of your local agency call 1-800-362-3002 or go to dhs.wisconsin.gov/em/CustomerHelp. "
Mel, I took this from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website, this is just a suggestion for you. Some of this deals with Spousal Impoverishment, but I think an Elderly Benefit Specialist maybe able to help you, just one avenue, and my two cents, but I also agree with Bill's response, to seek legal help.

Diane

Mel, Christy's right, you have the right to prepay your final expenses while you are preparing for assisted living-or the like. making your grandmother ward of the state can be complicated. For GG, it was a matter of 'gifting off" the $$ she had.which was minimal, since her SSI was a whopping $668. Her nursing home was approx $4800 per mo, of which 100% was paid by medicaid, in turn, her SSI check went to them, and she received a stipend of $60. per mo. I paid for hair and manicures for her, as well as clothing, incidentals, you get it.......
I kept a "slush fund" for her, it began with her $1000...keeping it out of the state's hands, and, at any time, it had $1000 in it, incase she needed anything.
GG had no assets at that point. No car, house, etc, so those weren't an issue. She could, right now, deed the house to you.Her whole life Ins could be turned in for face value......but, here's the sticky wicket.....not sure HOW to do that without an attorney's help.....
so, my best suggestion is to find a good elder law attorney(that's what we did).....so all the I's are crossed and the T's dotted.
It may not be much, but it's Grandma's assets, and she SHOULD be able to disburse them as she sees fit.
Not fun, certainly not something you really WANT to consider, but it will help her with peasce of mind, and you will know everything is being done for her that can be done.

You're a good, loving granddaughter, Melly!
Cathi

Or another solution is -- let Grandmaw LOAN you her savings at no interest (get an attorney to draw up the papers nice and legal) and you pay it back $100 per month. Put a claus in there that upon her death the note payment goes to YOU... That way she has the assets, but it's null and void upon her death. We did this with my step-grandmother.

There really are ways around that little loophole -- talk to the lawyer and find them.. But take a deep breath -- it's not the end of the world. Trust me on this one... It's just paperwork..

Hugs BD

Melissa wrote on Aug 1^st, 2009 at 5:02pm:

It's my understanding you can give anyone 13K a year tax free....

I deleted his posts...his signature line is a billboard link!! Bye bye spammer.

Joe