My mom has Alzheimer's and lives at home. Her bank account is dwindling down fast and what she receives from Social Security won't cover all of her expenses. What are we to do?

You must immediately explore public benefit options. These will vary by state, county, and sometimes city. You will have to start doing some serious homework. A good place to begin will be your county Area Agency on Aging or Aging and Disability Resource Center. Every county in the US has one. These are usually the "lead" agencies for many of the programs funded by the Older Americans Act and many other Federal as well as state specific programs.

Medicaid will most likely be an eventuality and again, state specific rules will apply. Do not wait to spend down all of your mother's money before applying. You are going to need every cent even is she receives Medicaid benefits. Explore techniques that can be used to preserve assets for her benefit while still permitting Medicaid qualification.

Was her husband a veteran? Were they married when he passed? If so, she may be eligible for a non-service connected pension called "Aid and Attendance" which may provide a benefit of up to $1,057 per month for cost of care at home or in any type of facility.

If you seek professional help shop carefully. Pricing is extremely arbitrary.

my mother's money also dwindled down quickly after daddy died. she had made me the durable power of attorney about 3 and a half years ago. she was 85 at the time, owned their home and had many times made it clear she would NOT GO INTO ASSISTED LIVING. my sister was disinherited after she tried to force her hand and petitioned to have her involuntarily committed after commiserating with mother's doctor because she would never step up to the plate to help. anyway, i got a reverse mortgage on mother's house. because of the value and other factors, i've figured she can comfortably live at home another 5 years (she's 87 now). i've been her 24/7 caregiver for the last two years for nothing. but after an incompetency hearing brought on by mother's doctor calling dss and saying she needed a guardian appointed and after being vindicated as having taken excellent care of her, no evidence of neglect i was appointed GOP, no fiscal misconduct the GA:L recommended to the clerk of court that an attorney be made the GOE, contrary to the durable power of attorney's administrative clause that named me as the GOE in the event it ever went to court, i was advised to petition for a personal services agreement so that i would be compensated for livein 24 hr. care

How completely unfair to you, the daughter who has cared for your Mom all this time and this comes about to likely line the pocket of a good ol boy attorney. You should be compensated well. What does that attorney know about your Mom or who she is or was.

I hear that children who provide care giver services to a parent can not take the time or dollars spent on their income tax. Is that true? If yes, how else can I be compensated for expenses and time for caring?