One thing I don't think a lot of people realize is that all the retirement planning they were supposed to do is to pay for things that cost a lot more than they did when they were young and healthy. My folks lived on about $30K per year before my dad died in their paid-off house with basic utilities and minimal car expenses. When he was gone and I had to move my mom to a nursing home, all of a sudden her annual expenses went up to about $120,000 per year.
Yeah, the costs of Assisted Living can really add up FAST, especially if your mother needs extra care or is at a higher level of care range. When my folks were in Brookdale, which is a corporate owned facility, they looked for extra charges to add on each & every month! Their only goal was $$$$$, so back in 2014, their care costs (for mom and dad both living in a tiny suite together) were topping $7K per month. The care was mediocre at best, the food was inedible, all the activities were methodically cancelled each day........the only thing that went on regularly was bingo...........so I looked around for a privately owned ALF and found a great one 4 miles away!!! I got them a gorgeous, very spacious 1 bedroom apartment for $4,600 a month including all the higher level care costs my dad required at the time.
If you think the costs are astronomical at the ALF your mom is currently at, ask for a breakdown of those costs and look them over. See if you think they're charging you for services NOT being rendered, or, if they're overcharging you or bulking up the bill by adding on unnecessary charges. For instance, at Brookdale, dad needed to be wheeled to the dining room ONCE (which was 30' away from his room) so they added $250 per month for 'escort to dining room' fees onto his bill!! Ya gotta pay attention! LOL
Create an outline by categories, then break them down into more specific categories. That'll help put things in perspective to ask specific questions. Break down the categories of finance: primary and supplemental medical insurance, house insurance, food, utilities, caregiving, etc.
Are you comfortable with Excel spread sheets? If so, you can input the data and compare month by month to detect variations, and address those (unless they're seasonal.)
As to the outrageously high bills, any particular ones? In my area, seniors can get different rates for electrical services, so you might try that. Also, non-shutoff is available for seniors so that even if bills are behind, service won't be shut off.
Getting old is not an inexpensive proposition.
If you think the costs are astronomical at the ALF your mom is currently at, ask for a breakdown of those costs and look them over. See if you think they're charging you for services NOT being rendered, or, if they're overcharging you or bulking up the bill by adding on unnecessary charges. For instance, at Brookdale, dad needed to be wheeled to the dining room ONCE (which was 30' away from his room) so they added $250 per month for 'escort to dining room' fees onto his bill!! Ya gotta pay attention! LOL
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Are you comfortable with Excel spread sheets? If so, you can input the data and compare month by month to detect variations, and address those (unless they're seasonal.)
As to the outrageously high bills, any particular ones? In my area, seniors can get different rates for electrical services, so you might try that. Also, non-shutoff is available for seniors so that even if bills are behind, service won't be shut off.