The only type of "nursing home" care Medicare helps pay for is skilled nursing facility care. Medicare does not pay for custodial care when this is the only kind of care your mother or father need. Custodial care is primarily for the purpose of helping your mother or father with daily living or meeting personal needs such as walking, dressing and eating, etc. His or her condition must require daily skilled nursing or skilled rehabilitation services which can only be provided in a skilled nursing facility. The skilled care she receives must be based on a doctor's orders.
Medicare Part A can help pay for certain inpatient care in a Medicare certified skilled nursing facility following a hospital stay of at least three days in a row, not counting the day of discharge.
Custodial care in a nursing home may be covered by Medicaid if the individual meets the specific state income and resource requirements for Medicaid assistance.
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