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I’d suggest that you take a step back and consider the wider implications of her going on long Term Care Medicaid and what it can mean for her old living situation and what the financial requirements are for this specific program. If she has decided to continue to own her home - which it sounds like is the case - Medicaid allows for that home to stay as an exempt asset for her lifetime by and large. And after death it then reverts to a nonexempt asset of her Estate and subject to an attempt by the State to recover costs paid via Estate Recovery program. But her being able to pay whatever needed for her home… whether 1K in flooring today or 4K in property taxes tomorrow will be problematic.

Has anyone mentioned to you that as of the date of her filing for LTC Medicaid, there is a required Share of Cost to be done by her? This often comes as a totally surprise and family / POA are gobsmacked by what the SOC means. SOC is that as of the date of filing, she is required to have almost all her monthly income (like SSA $) paid to the NH each month less a small personal needs allowance. PNA for most States is $50/$75 and is restricted spending. It’s to be used on things not covered under LTC Medicaid. As Medicaid is paying for her “housing”, she is not suppose to use that PNA $ on her home she still owns. PNA $ is to be used for beauty shoppe, clothing and other personal items replacements. Right now she’s in a gap period as she’s filed but not yet approved, so caseworker imho will be ok on the flooring.

Some State allow for the SOC to be paid starting Day 1 while her application is being processed. Others have to wait till determination is done for the NH to get all the SOC from the resident till date of application completion. Either way SOC owed.

But the bigger questions, to me, are…
- would this 1K be better used in another way as she will be so limited in $ with just that PNA $ every month.? And
- is it feasible for you / POA / family to pay all her property costs for an undetermined period of time on a house you do not own and cannot be guaranteed to inherit due to Medicaid Estate Recovery?
- if other family members will not pay their share of property costs, can you do this 100% without this becoming an issue? If that flooring is one of many things needed to have her home stay safe & secure while it sits vacant till she either dies or is able to move back into it, this will be costly. If you are needing her to pay a modest 1K as you cannot afford it, not really feasible to have her keep her home.
so, if this is the case
- would it be best for her to sell the house?
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Reply to igloo572
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Your mother is in a nursing home, and THAT is now her home.
Are you asking if she can spend for new flooring in her room in her facility?
Or are you asking if she can put in new flooring at a home she is no longer living in.
If your mom is able, by the rules of your state, to have 1,000.00 of her own and still receive her aid, then if she is competent to make the decision she can use that 1,000 for anything she likes. She can gamble it away. She can buy makeup. And she can put a floor into a home that is in her own name.

As to putting a floor into someone ELSE'S home I am not certain how that would work. It would look like gifting, and if she is allowed some allowance I am not certain the rulings.

As these things aren't something you can be wrong about I would call your state medicaid office and ask for a counselor and ask the rules as regards this. I think you must understand that details matter in these slippery situations. If currently you are wanting to sell the home and improve it for that reason (if you are her POA) or if the person living in the home wants a new floor, any POA spending money on flooring might come in for accusations of elder abuse if this woman is not completely competent, or of self-enrichment, which is as bad.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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She can spend on ho,e expenses. You can also buy her things. She just can’t gift money to you.
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Reply to PeggySue2020
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