Can I claim tax deduction for my mother's Alzheimer's care expenses?

How does this work if the sister is providing the actual physical care? Would she be the one who should claim the mom as a dependent instead? And what about the memory care day program - does it need to be a special type to qualify for the deduction?

Support includes both financial assistance and the value of housing/care provided, so you'll need to calculate the total support from both you and your sister. If you're providing more than half the total support value (including your direct payments plus any housing/food/utilities you provide), you can claim her as a dependent even if your sister provides physical care. For the memory care program to qualify, it generally needs to be prescribed by a doctor as part of the treatment plan for Alzheimer's. Keep the doctor's recommendation documentation and make sure the facility provides care specifically related to her medical condition, not just general supervision. Programs that include medical, therapeutic, or rehabilitative services for Alzheimer's patients typically qualify.

Did it help you figure out if you needed to file any special forms? I'm worried about messing something up and getting audited. Also, does it help calculate that 7.5% threshold thing the other person mentioned?

Does it work for other care situations too? My wife's father needs specialized care for Parkinson's, and we're drowning in paperwork and bills. Not sure if we even qualify for any tax breaks since he has his own income.

Yes, it identified all the required forms including Schedule A for itemizing deductions and Form 2120 (Multiple Support Declaration) since multiple family members were contributing to my dad's care. It also calculated that threshold automatically once I entered my income information, and showed me exactly how much would be deductible. It absolutely works for other care situations including Parkinson's. It'll analyze your father-in-law's situation based on his income and your contributions to determine if you qualify for dependent status or medical deductions. It even flags expenses that might qualify as medical deductions that I would have missed, like home modifications for accessibility.

Wait, how does this actually work? I thought it was impossible to get through to the IRS without waiting for hours. Is this some kind of priority line or something?

This sounds too good to be true. I've tried calling the IRS multiple times about deducting my aunt's care costs and never got through. How could a third-party service possibly get you to the front of the line? The IRS phone system is notoriously terrible.

It uses a technology that navigates the IRS phone tree and holds your place in line. When an agent becomes available, it calls you and connects you directly to them. It's not a priority line - it's just handling the waiting part for you so you don't have to stay on hold for hours. I was skeptical too! I tried calling the IRS directly three times before and gave up after 45+ minutes each time. With Claimyr, I just entered my phone number, and they called me back when an agent was on the line. The agent confirmed specifics about which Alzheimer's-related expenses qualified in my case and explained exactly how to document them properly. Saved me from potentially making expensive mistakes on my return.

Do you know if these state credits are only for people who pay for care or also for family members who provide the care themselves? My brother has moved in with my mom who has early Alzheimer's and had to reduce his work hours, but he's not getting paid.

It varies by state, but many state caregiver credits actually do cover family members providing unpaid care. In my state, lost income due to caregiving responsibilities can qualify for the credit. Your brother should check specifically for "family caregiver tax credits" in your state. Some states also offer credits for making accessibility modifications to homes for people with conditions like Alzheimer's. The eligibility requirements differ significantly between states though, so have your brother check your state's department of revenue website or call them directly.

I used TurboTax last year for a similar situation with my father's medical expenses. It does prompt you with questions about dependents and medical costs, but I found it didn't really explain the nuances very well. I ended up consulting with an accountant afterward who found several deductions I'd missed. For complicated situations like this, I think it's worth paying for professional help.