What is a "home burial?

I had to put him in the nursing home and my name is on all the admission papers...what am i liable for?

• am I liable for anything i signed my name to when had to sign him into the nursing home? This is not what i imagned doing... EVER. What granddaughter n the world wants to see their invincible grandad have to go into the nursing home..let alone be the one to sign the papers to put him in there! Told my grandmother if she didnt want to be the bad guy to tell him that I put him in there..never would have thought she would tell me to go up there and fix everything without at least offering to go with to sign all the papers. ...she's been putting this off for so long now..i know its not easy have been here since he went into the hospital 62 days ago. Up till now have been letting her have her way she sees me as an adult for things like this..but takes my opinion as if I was 8 years old again. the ratings for this place was not the best and I've researched a better place..where my mothers mother is at now is the best around here... Their sons and Older grandkids do not want to upset her...and most of them just like ***** and tell me what im doing is always wrong and i just need to let our grandmother handle it so it wont upset her... well no thanks to them if i let her handle it she may end up looseing their home and end up in the nursing home herself. shes afraid of upsetting any doc or nursing home for fear of her or him getting hurt. She told me she HAD to send him whereever the rehab center sent him. Thats what she went by on which home to put him in. She also will not go to the social security to get papers..theres a law the case workers keep talking bout ..it does not allow the gov to take all his pay becasue it would render her poor to pay her bills at home...she just assumes the case worker and nursing home will provide the paper work... ive been to many nursing homes with other relatvies..I may be young but was not born yesterday..they will take care of themselves especially when it comes to money..before thinking of the patients or spouces! What should I do!

• Answer:

  I don't know what state you're in but each state's application of the state/federal Medicare/Medicaid programs are a little different. I can only refer to Ohio's application since that's what I had to deal with for my mother on behalf of my father. Medicare normally covers the first 100 days after hospitalization and transfer to a nursing home. You mentioned a rehabilitation center in there. His time there probably comes out of the 100 days. After that 100 days, the nursing home will consider your grandfather to be a private pay patient. You might be considered liable for those payments depending upon what you signed. But you should expect your grandmother to pay those charges out of their savings, cashing life insurance policies and monthly income. As far as losing the house, at least in Ohio, my dad was able to keep the house and most of his monthly income after they spent down all their CDs, life insurances, other savings, cashed stocks, etc but Mom qualified for Medicaid with a monthly patient responsibility. Basically the monthly patient responsibility was the amount of their monthly income that was beyond what they felt was a reasonable amount for my dad to live on and keep the house. There's a lot involved here. Even if your grandmother can afford to privately pay for your grandfather's care now, start investigating their state's rules and regulations dealing with Medicaid for long term care. I can't tell from your info whether it looks like your grandfather will only be in the nursing home for a short while or for the rest of his life. I suggest you talk with the social worker at the nursing home for general info and then at least consult with an estate lawyer. The estate lawyer can help preserve the funds while both of your grandparents are alive. There will be more restrictions if your grandfather is deemed unable to understand what is happening and agree to things of his own free will and competency. My heart goes out to you. My mother died in July after 6 years in the nursing home. I had to decide which nursing home for her after strokes caused her to need 2 people 24/7 and we just couldn't keep her at home anymore. We took my dad to visit her every afternoon. My dad died the end of 2005 at home. After he died, my mom was disqualified from Medicaid until the proceeds of selling their home were spent. But then she easily requalified for Medicaid.