How do we protect our Mom's money in the bank?

Ella..if all you are talking about is what may be left in the QIT (Irrevocable Qualified Income Trust) at your mother's demise, you may be misunderstanding the purpose and terms of the trust.
A QIT is created for a Medicaid recipient who's income exceed the state income cap for Medicaid eligibility (currently $2,199 in Florida for 2015 and changes annually).
Each month the trustee of the QIT places an amount equal to the amount of the Medicaid recipient's income that exceeds the income cap into a bank account titled in the name of the trust. Funds placed in the trust account may only be used for the cost of care for the Medicaid recipient. Ideally, the account is spent down each month to $0 for this purpose.
If there are any funds remaining in the trust account at the demise of the Medicaid recipient, the funds must go to the state to reimburse the state for Medicaid benefits received. Typically (if the account is handled properly), this a should not be more than one month's income.
Money should not accumulate in the account.
There is no other legal alternative for funds placed in a QIT account; they either go to cost of care or back to the state.

Let me ask an impolitic question: you want Medicaid, a program for the destitute, to pay for care while she retains her assets. Do you see the problem? Her assets should pay for her care, not everyone else's tax dollars. In countries where the government pays for nh care for all elderly, income and other taxes are several times higher than in the US.

Ella, Mom's assets should be used for her care. When/if they run out, then the taxpayers through Medicaid are stepping in to help Mom, BUT it is just fair and moral that her assets be used up first. Children are NOT entitled to an inheritance, certainly not at the taxpayers' expense. If everyone did what you are talking about, then the Medicaid program would collapse. Do you really prefer that to an inheritance for yourselves? Do you understand the consequences of the behavior you are talking about? Please keep in mind that the "government" is us, the taxpayers. Treat us fairly.

As for inheritance, it is a new world with the elderly living longer. Time was, an elder would be reasonably healthy til the moment they had a stroke or heart attack. Then they would be dead. Longterm medical care would not be so much of an issue. Times change and the elderly living longer are much more likely to suffer from debilitating chronic conditions, such as Alzheimers.

Tell the greedy relatives it is mom's money and it was saved up to take care of her, not them

You guys are right, I now realize that my question was insensitive. It is no excuse, but we feel overwhelmed as caregivers trying to make the best decisions for Mom both medically and financially. With that said, I also realize that we are not in this alone many many people are experiencing the same things. Thanks for making me look at this another way.

I work for a hospital Sherri63, and I have never found one that will keep a patient forever just because her family won't co operate on getting her into a lower cost place ( for them) they need those hospital beds for income producing surguries, etc. So you sister may be in for a rude awakening when the hospital files for guardinship! If they say she has to go,, she will.. to a place the social workers or state decides.. or back home.. and in my opinion let that be to HER!!

My husband and I have been taking care of mama going on 4 years. She is in hospital now waiting to be approved for medicaid. The problem is, my sister name is the one on mama's bank accounts and she won't sign for mama's money to be in nursing home, so she can be approved for medicaid. Mama is in such bad shape with dementia and cancer, she can't come back home. My sister is trying to keep mama's money for herself, which makes me sick. Mama is 85 and over the years she had Brest cancer, heart attack and has had dementia for a long time and cancer in her bones. I have took care of her through it all. My sister has never done anything to help, now mama is having to live in hospital because my sister won't corporate with anyone, so mama can go to nursing home. I'm at my wits end. And need to find a way to make her release mama's money. I don't have the money to hire a lawyer. I don't know what else I can do:(

Thank You so much Give a Hug! I didn't know the hospital could get Guardianship. This opens up knew doors and really brought my stress level way down. I'm gonna call case manager, asap. I can't thank you enough!! :) Now, hopefully mama can get settled in one place. They have to keep moving her around at the hospital and as you know, that confuses someone with dementia even more. But, they had to. Thanks again, you made my day:)