When a parent gets worse, what steps need to be taken?

You need to speak to someone with her facility and ask them what you need to do to get Mom on Medicaid. She cannot have assets that total more than $2,000. There should be someone in the facility that can assist you with filing.

I would also have a talk with them about watching Mom so she is not able to leave the facility and wander. Personally I would be angry about this situation! If my mother was injured or killed due to their negligence I would sue them!

My BIL is in a Veteran's home. There are dozens of wives there! But you need all the honorable Discharge papers and proof of serving to get in. They are wonderful about finances!

Blessings to you and your mother for an outcome beneficial to everyone. Have you explored options at the facility where she lives? They may know of funding alternatives. Another source are local and state agencies for the elderly.

The U.S. Veterans Administration does have a program for widows of military who served during a war. We applied for my 95-year-old mother a year ago this past April and still have not received a decision, despite her age giving her "priority" status. (VA needs support to get funding sufficient to do its job.)

Good luck.

There is a veteran's benefit, called Aid & Attendance, that I understand is also available to spouses of veterans. www.veteranaid.org
Attorneys specializing in elder affairs know about it, as well as most nursing homes and other such elder care facilities.
You might also look into Medicaid first.