Question
My grandmother is in a nursing home and is suffering from dementia. Will Medicaid stop paying for her care if we take her out on weekend getaways or out for dinner once a week?
— Caring.com Community Member, missing grandma
Answer
Expert Joseph L. Matthews is a Caring.com senior editor, an attorney, and the author of Long-Term Care: How to Plan & Pay for It and Social Security, Medicare, & Government Pensions: Get the Most Out of Your Retirement & Medical Benefits.
Absolutely not. In determining someone's income to decide whether they qualify for Medicaid, substantial regular non-cash contributions from family, for example in the form of rent-free housing or daily meals and all clothing, is sometimes considered. But even regularly taking your grandmother out of the nursing home for a family visit or getaway, or for a meal, does not amount to "income" and would not disqualify her for Medicaid coverage of her nursing home care.
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