Can we use some of my Mom's money to buy a handicap accessible van?

I have tried everything to get Mom into either a truck or suv's and it doesnt work. I have a hoyer lift and my husband and I tried hoyering eachother all different ways and we cannot lift her high enough to get her bum onto the seat without her head higher the roof, its crazy. We bought a used Ramp Van for 5k, put 2k into it and 3 years later sold it due to excessive rust for less than 1k. Yes we got screwed but it got us to and from doctors visits and even on a vacation, with mom, hoyer and all. Its that or no vacation. There are some new vans out that have no windows, like work vans, I forget the name. If MOm is still here in the spring, my husband said he wants to trade in his small car for a van so we can get her out if we ever needed to. My Mom doesnt walk. Dont let your MOm pay for it, they will make her sell it or penalize her if you use a nursing home. I am keeping MOm with us.

It doesn't sound very cost effective to me. At the least you'll have to spend $40-50K to get an adapted small van. This is very expensive unless you planned to take her out several times a week. Others' idea of adapting your current vehicles sounds better to me.

Will it matter if you do later have to sell the van? I'd still suggest you look at more cost-effective adaptations to your own car, though - there are countless variations on the market.

Keep in mind that once they are on Medicaid, that all their monthly income must be paid to the facility. They are only allowed a very small personal needs allowance which varies by state from $ 35 - $ 105 a month. That's it, there is no - none - nada of any other $. For my mom in TX, it was$ 60 a month and really just covered beauty salon costs & some toiletries.

Although their home & a car can be exempt assets under Medicaid, family is going to have to pay all the costs on the van & for a van that they do NOT own from day 1 of medicaid and either till they die or it gets sold (which will put them over the asset limit for Medicaid, which means getting off Medicaid and then deal with a spend down & reapplying for Medicaid...a lot of work imho). The insurance costs alone could be quite high to have you all have to be assigned drivers on the insurance. I'd bet you will have to get a speciality auto insurance carrier to get a policy. Family would have to front all repairs, gas, etc on the van. Plus that sucker will really depreciate in value.

Usually the math just doesn't work for family to keep their elders home or vehicle and they get sold ASAP & before Medicaid is ever applied for.

I've seen a regular SUV being used to carry a wheelchair and a person who needs it constantly. The mother carried a ramp in the cargo compartment, unfolded it and attached it to the cargo bay, then rolled the wheelchair down on it, up to the front passenger side door, and got her daughter in.

I was intrigued as I watched how easily she managed this; it only took about 5 minutes to get the ramp attached and operable.

She said she paid about $80 for it.

NO do not buy a wheelchair van. Do you have any idea what these cost? YES you will have to sell it, to pay for her care. I hope to heaven you rethink this.