Here's how nursing care works in New Jersey. My papa suffered from Alzheimer's. I cared for him for several years until he became too difficult to manage, and then went looking for a nursing home. (A Veteran's Home was not an option. In our area the beds are reserved for veterans who have no resources.) If the patient has no assets he/she is put on the home's Medicaid waiting list. The patient may wait from one to five years for one of the limited number of Medicaid beds to become available. An Alzheimer's patient can wait longer as there are generally fewer available beds. If the patient has assets, either the patient or the responsible party can wave cash at the nursing home and if it's enough (Papa had $30,000) the patient will probably get the next available bed. As Papa's savings were depleted, I sold his house and belongings, and cashed in his life insurance policy. I used the proceeds to continue to pay for the nursing home. When that money ran out he was transferred to county public assistance ("welfare"). His pension and social security continued to be paid directly to the nursing home welfare paid the balance. I do not have to reimburse the county public assistance office. However, it was a requirement of public assistance that all his assets be used first. When he entered the home the annual bill was $50,000. By the time he died five years later, the annual bill was $75,000. Some may say how awful it was that, after working so hard all his life to save for retirement, all his money had to go to pay for nursing care. I say that he saved so that he could live comfortably in his retirement, which he did. He had very good round the clock care for five years. It was far better than I could have provided. The money was well spent. That said, the cost of care is far too high. I'm thinking I'll end my days like WyoWoman.