Can Nursing Home Take Assets From Trust?

Added February 27, 2009 by Ilyce R. Glink

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Summary: If a relative's assets are held in trust and they're in a nursing home, could the nursing home take those assets? It depends on what kind of trust it is and when it was set up. Talking to an attorney can help to determine if a home is at risk.

Q: We have my mom's house in a trust. The trustees are her five children (me and my four siblings). Mom has suffered a stroke and can no longer take care of herself. Can the nursing home take her homes assets to pay for her care? We haven't sold the house yet, although it's been up for sale for almost a year now. Or is the house exempt?

A: It's unclear whether the house is at risk. It depends on what kind of trust has been set up, and when the trust was set up. Medicaid has a 5-year lookback provision, so if she set this up within the last 5 years or if Medicaid considers home in the trust to be her asset, the assets of the house may be at risk.

Please talk to an estate attorney or estate planner for more details.

Feb. 27, 2009

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