Determining eligibility for dear ole dad

Debbie, first THANK YOU for all the veterans and their families that you have and are helping!! My brother and I are hoping this site will help us with our 85 year old dad. His physicians have told us that he cannot live at home alone anymore (mostly concerned about meds). They said a caregiver several times a week now is ok, more as his condition deteriorates (he has slight dementia, COPD and emphysema). He is a WWII veteran, retired. We have been told by different living facilities/geriatric agency that he is NOT or IS qualified for A&A. at this point, we are not sure if dad could be or not. The geriatric agency, who files for veterans to receive A&A (yes, I did read on your site, that they cannot lawfully charge do this), state they believe he is eligible, BUT dad needs to put his stocks, IRA and home into an irrevocable trust so they are not counted as assets against him, they are protected from Medicare (when that is needed) and won’t have to go thru probate (but his home is currently in a revocable living trust, so it wouldn’t go thru probate, anyway). Ok, so I read on your site that his assets have to be less than $80,000. He is over that amount with his stocks, IRA and monthly annuities (from Soc Sec and Army). I’m hoping an IRA wouldn’t be taken into account because he would have to pay a penalty to withdraw from it (his monthly annuity from this is only $149). We called his stocks person and they told us he does not need to put everything into an irrevocable trust and his stocks/IRA are not over $80,000…he didn’t include dad’s monthly income, so is that not included? (I would think it would be in determining eligibility). Also, it sounds like dad has to have a caregiver in place already before submitting A&A, right? So, he will have to pay caregiver with stocks ($49,000) until, hopefully, he is approved. This Geriatric group will process his A&A appl, place his assets (including deed to house) in the irrevocable trust, follow dad thru the whole year with VA, etc., set him up for recert every year with VA, help with caregiver forms, etc. all for the price of $5200!!! Is there anyway to find out if dad’s incomes preclude him from eligibility before we even start this process? Yes, I did see the form on your sight, but does anyone know if an IRA would be included. And, did anyone else run across the irrevocable trust chatter? Sorry if this is too much information, I’m just beginning this for dad and I already have a migraine. BUT, it’s for dad & he’s greatly loved.  vivien