Does Medicare aid in paying for sitters for the elderly when the patient would have to be in a nursing home if there was no sitter?

Medicare is unlikely to help, but in some states there are exceptions. Medicaid often offers some help. However, each state is different (these programs are federally funded but state administered). So, try going to your state Web site. Type "aging" in the search and follow the local links for information. You will find the National Caregiver Support Program on the site (could have a different name). This can also be very useful. Good luck.
Carol

My mother is in a nursing home facility. They are requiring her to have a sitter during the day-time hours (usually 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.). She is currently on Medicaid. My question: is there any sort of assistance in paying for the private sitters?

The facility cannot require a person on Medicaid to pay for a sitter. It could be considered Medicaid fraud since the facility is being paid from Medicaid to care for your mother and asking you to pay for her care also. I would suggest you contact your local Long-Term Care Ombudsman for free confidential assistance. Go to http://www.ltcombudsman.org/ombudsman

No, I don't think Medicare is involved in this. Medicare does not pay for nursing homes or for ways to stay out of nursing homes. Medicaid, however, does have "elderly waiver" programs with that exact purpose. They do not usually cover 24-hour sitters, because at that point it would be more cost-effective to be in a nursing home, but they can help with companions, aides, therapists, cleaning persons, etc. By all means, find your state's website and start exploring this.