Has anyone moved a parent from one state to another...from one assisted living to another?

When moving from state to state, federal law prohibits a state from imposing a length-of-residence requirement before a patient may be covered by Medicaid in the new state. However, be aware that qualifying for Medicaid is determined at the state level, although there are many federal rules that apply to all the states. Sometimes there are key differences between the state implementation that may affect a particular case. Thus, before you decide to pack up a parent and move them from State A to State B, it is good advice to check out the Medicaid rules in State B to avoid any nasty surprises!
You also need to find out if there are Medicaid-certified nursing homes with available beds in the town or city to which you wish to move your parent, if there is a waiting list, etc.

My in-laws did it with awful results. They moved grandma from her apartment in IL. to their trailer in AZ. It was too much for her. They had to move her back and into an IL. nursing home.

She thought that they were stealing from her and poisoning her food.

So, no. I don't think that a big change in location is good.

Medicaid does not transfer at all sometimes. People who have done this find out the patient has to establish an address, so mom moves in with them. Then they find out their state has a mile long waiting list and they really panic. Finally mom herself goes all to pieces in an unfamiliar new surrounding. Then mom decides she wants to move back and all too late you realize this is the dementia talking. Sometimes you are better off to drive her around the block and say "Here we are! We're in Virginia ! Yippee!"

And might I add, if mom owned her own house in Ohio, once she leaves it, Medicaid Ohio will recover their payments by taking the house. UH OH

It can be done. No just how feasible it can be and whether or not it is going to cost your family both in time for paperwork & in private pay till VA Medicaid works is going to be the issue. I would take Chicago's story to heart and really think if mom is cognitive enough to understand what a move would mean. If she is really good on her ADL's and very competent then she could know what a move to another facility would be. BUT if she is starting to be out-there with dementia, then she just flat doesn't understand what a move would mean, it could be that what she wishes is just to turn back the clock to happy times with Sissy & that ain't happening.

Medicaid is managed by the states but under an overall federal guideline. So state laws and administration make a huge difference. So always keep that in mind when you start to say…."but in Ohio"… Mom will have to become a valid resident of the state of VA too with all her banking, etc moved to VA. If she has any real property in OH, those will be non-exempt assets for VA Medicaid - this can be a deal-breaker so I hope mom does not have a car, house or land in OH.

But my first ? for you is just what is mom's needs? Is she really truly not ready for a NH? - like is she just fine for the AL she is in? I ask because by & large Medicaid is done as a program for "skilled nursing needed" situations first & foremost. Now some states have a Medicaid diversion program which will pay for AL for those that qualify for being financially "at-need" for Medicaid but don't yet need skilled nursing in a NH. Other states really do not do a diversion program for AL or the diversion program has a waiting list of applicants and just a few AL even participate in the diversion program. My mom is in TX and really for TX Medicaid it is easier to get them into a NH than to wait to get onto the very limited # of diversion slots in an AL. The AL who even do participate have the list filled with existing residents who have been there private pay so they never take outsiders. In my state (LA), it the same thing in that AL Medicaid beds only get filled from within. AL by & large in most states are private pay and are a profit center.

Please talk with the social worker at the current AL on this and then ask for a "care plan meeting" to discuss what mom's needs are. I'd suggest you take someone with you to take notes and go with ?'s. Then based on this, you & Sissy in VA look to see what facilities are in VA that could provide the level of care that mom needs.