What If?

[smcgarry]

What is the name of your state?Texas
My Mother has recently gone into a nursing home and I am her POA, medical and durable.
The physician has recommended that Mom go on hospice because she is deteriorating quickly and has a terminal illness...alzheimers/dementia.
I had set up a family trust and have been transfering the maximum legal amount of funds monthly into it from Moms checking so that she could eventually go on medicaide and they would not deny her eligability.
1. Will her going on hospice make any difference?
2. If she passes before all the money in her checking is used up, what will happen? She does not have a will, so will the funds be tied up in probate?

I have tried to contact the attorney about this stuff, but can't seem to reach him.

Thank you for any advice you might be able to offer.

 

[BlondiePB]

You are committing two crimes: Medicaid fraud (spending down) and POA fiduciary abuse.

Eligibility for Hospice is not "income" related. Hospice does not pay for nursing home room and board. Do enroll your mother in Hospice.

 

[smcgarry]

This was all done under the guidance of a licensed elder law attorney, and it is not a crime to "spend down" her assets so that we will have some money to take care of Mom's personal needs when medicaide takes over. Medicaide will not pay for meds or the things Mom likes....chocolate and Pepsi and cigarettes.
I have no clue what POA fiduciary abuse is, but don't feel that I have done anything wrong.
I simply want my Mom to be comfortable and happy in her last days here on this Earth. I love my Mother with all my heart and she is my very best friend in the entire World.
Thank you for your advice.

 

[BlondiePB]

This was all done under the guidance of a licensed elder law attorney, and it is not a crime to "spend down" her assets so that we will have some money to take care of Mom's personal needs when medicaide takes over. Medicaide will not pay for meds or the things Mom likes....chocolate and Pepsi and cigarettes.
I have no clue what POA fiduciary abuse is, but don't feel that I have done anything wrong.
I simply want my Mom to be comfortable and happy in her last days here on this Earth. I love my Mother with all my heart and she is my very best friend in the entire World.
Thank you for your advice.

You are welcome. I will only give you limited advice. It is apparent to me that you do not understand how all this works. The sundries for your mother (chocolate, pepsi; cigarettes) cost approx. $100 - $150 per month. Keep any food and candy in ziplock bags because they will attract ants. Once your mother is enrolled in Hospice, bring that paper to the nursing home's business office. All medical, including prescriptions related to her terminal illness, will be 100% covered by Hospice. Check the monthly nursing home bills to ensure that her medical was charged to Hospice/Medicare. Medicare pays 100% for Hospice.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

In addirion to what Blondie said, if your mother has alzheimers/dementia, you don't want her smoking or at least unsupervised. You might need some medical supervision to wean her off the smokes. Remember while she may forget recent things so she may not remember she has quit and want them, so it may be a struggle for a while.

 

[BlondiePB]

In addirion to what Blondie said, if your mother has alzheimers/dementia, you don't want her smoking or at least unsupervised. You might need some medical supervision to wean her off the smokes. Remember while she may forget recent things so she may not remember she has quit and want them, so it may be a struggle for a while.

Agree about the smoking, rmet. Nursing homes do not allow smoking in the facility. They have outdoor areas. Still, one with dementia could start a fire outside. I don't think the smoking is going to be the COD for the OP's mother. With so little time left, she should enjoy her nasty smoking habit as long as she can, with supervision. The struggle to wean OP's mom off smoking or getting her to quit is just not worth doing so at this point. It's more important that she's happy and supervised.

 

[smcgarry]

Thank's y'all.
I had decided that she could continue to smoke if that's what she chose to do. She has been smoking for 60 years and I don't dare take ANYTHING away from her at this point if it makes her happy.
Funny thing is.....sometimes she doesn't remember she smokes...which may explain why she seems so aggitated at times!
Thank's again for all your support, ideas and suggestions.
I want to do everything I can possibly do for my Mom...she did so very much for me when I was groing up and I will never be able to repay her for all her love and kindness.