Should I sign the payment arrangements on the admissions packet for the nursing home that my dad just went into?

You should not sign any document that will make you financially liable for your father's expenses.

Do not sign it until you talk to an expert about the legalities involved. I don't know anything about the admissions procedure into a nursing facility. I hope someone will be along soon that can give you better advice than I could. You definitely don't want to make yourself responsible for payment. Does anyone have you father's POA that could sign as his agent?

BTW, if he has nothing but SS, will he be receiving Medicaid? His Medicaid and SS will be routed directly to the nursing home. I don't see why they would want you to sign anything unless they are depending on you to write the check for the SS to them. Since it can be directly deposited to them, I don't see the point of you signing anything.

Don't sign -- especially if you do not have POA. Get a local referral to an Elder Law attorney and get their opinion (they will usually give you a free consult for this). Otherwise, check in with your local Senior Center and ask for resources. Don't sign, even though you are joint on the checking without legal advice. Likely, he will need to run through his checking, then they'll want you to sell off any assets (housing, car, etc.) and once that $$ is gone, they'll convert to medicaid but you should make sure you aren't signed on anything like the NH for now until you have legal direction -- otherwise you may be liable for outstanding expenses. Understand NH care can be upwards of $16K/mo...

I agree Jessie.

My dad was already in the wavier program here in this county in NW PA which made him nursing home eligible. The wavier program actually paid me as the c/g for about 35 hrs a week. His case manager for the wavier program said there should be no problem with him getting medicaid because he is basically poor so it should be a fairly easy process (absolutely no assets) but because he transferred to a different county we have to reapply.

I certainly have no problem signing over his SS because that is what will pay for part of his care but they say it takes about 2-3 months, and until then medicare pays and when that runs out a 20% co-pay which should be covered by medicaid until he is approved (retroactively).


But I agree.........I do not see the point either my signing that. Especially since they won't let him sign it. He's not that out of it if you know what I mean. Unfortunately there is no one else who will sign. I think I am just going to leave it blank.

Thank you Mr. Robbins for your advice. I am not going to sign it!