Mom has had dementia for atleast 5 years now. I am her caregiver taking her to medical appointments, shopping & entertainment. I hired out of pocket a lady to clean & cook 2 times a week to help because I work full time, and don't live with her. Now she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. I have taken a leave from work & moved in temporarily. I need to activate her springable power of attorney to get a reverse mortgage on her home in order to hire more care for her. I need to continue working & my siblings also work & wont contribute financially or don't work & won't contribute with time. I realize this will use up the estate but since they won't assist I'm ok with spending their (our)future inheritance on her care. My mother doesn't qualify for med-iCal help. My question is I sent her medical doctor at Kaiser a request for a letter certifying her inability to make decisions & I haven't heard back. Is it difficult to obtain this letter? Unfortunately I changed her primary physician after the congestive heart diagnosis & she hasn't been in to see her,but since the doctor is within Kaiser I figured they could just review the chart. Im thinking of Kaiser as a whole being her primary care physician but maybe I'm wrong.
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Really, don't rush into that reverse mortgage. They tend to be poor value for money, because they tend to be marketed to customers who are either over a barrel or have no idea of the current market for their property. It might well be better to sell outright - get good professional advice first, anyway.
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With CHF and vascular dementia and that length of history, I'm not too sure about a plan that involves your mother being cared for at home unless you're able to live in (and having done it, I wouldn't recommend it). She will need 24/7 supervision before long. It may be that the money just won't stack up; and if you're working you can't afford to make up for it with your time. Any other options that you like the look of near you?