As your parent’s power of attorney, you’re responsible for ensuring their nursing home bills are paid for through their assets and income. However, you aren’t responsible for paying those bills from your assets. Federal regulations signed in 2016 prohibit nursing homes from requiring that a third party guarantees nursing home payments, but you should still ensure that you haven’t signed as a guarantor. If you’re signing the agreement on their behalf, note that you’re acting as their POA.
If, in your role as POA, you’re planning on disposing of any of your parent’s assets, make sure you understand the state’s Medicaid asset requirements. If you sell certain assets at below market price, it could stop your parent from being eligible for Medicaid benefits to pay for their nursing home care.
