Help Senior in debt, what to do?

[morallyBR2]

My mother lived by herself in her house in her name. She became disabled and was unable to be rehabilitated and we had to put her in a 24 hour nursing care facility due to doctor's orders. To pay for the nursing facility, we had to pay out of pocket after Mediare covered her for three months trying to rehabilite her. Since the house was not in our name, our father deceased and no child living there full time for two years prior, Medicaid took all assets and her house and social security check, leaving her $2,000 and $40 per month for clothing allowance. That was the monthly amount of the check she would receive. There are certain rules that do continue to change (i.e., the recent change in 2005 from the 3 year look back to the 5 year lookback on asset/property changes). In the OP's situation, it appears she does not have that worry about and needs help in the short-term unless her mother has to go into a long term care facility due her illness. Since she has assets that appear to be in her name only, the OP has some quick stepping to do to get the property legal advice. If I were her, I'd be on the phone tomorrow with the nearest elder care lawyer I could find.

That sucks really bad. The same would have happened to me if my grandfather not outlived my grandmother. He died unexpectedly which didn't cost an enormous amount of money so I was able to maintain everything that was left. I used a majority of the left over money for a nice headstone and a nice funeral. My grandparents raised me so it was a really hard time for me losing them 6 months apart. They were married for 63 years. The only thing that was comforting to me was being able to provide them with an awesome funeral. They would have been appreciative of it I think. Ok, I'm gonna go cry now

[Ajax]

Thanks for the responses, this should help me greatly, I plan on contacting a elder care attorney very soon. To answer some of the questions, she lives in a small rural town in North Dakota with a house value of less than $25k, her credit card debt is well over that, she has not missed a payment, ever, even now, and she probably has a year or so left to live. I have switched her over to medicare starting July 1, and will be paying her secondary ins. as well as financing here other needs. I'm the only person she has.

[AngelinaCat]

I'm the only person she has.

Ajax, as an only child who also cared for an elderly mother, I know the quandry and pain you are in. I can also tell you that in many ways, you are +BLESSED+.

I've seen so many times when the adult children squabble about their elderly parents, and many times the major burden of care falls on one poor soul anyway. But you can sign the papers and handle her affairs. You don't to go around begging your sibblings for cooperation, or deal with the fuss about who gets what, and all that.

My prayers are with you and your Mother~~~