Hi: My Mom moved into an assisted living facility last May. Does anyone have any information on estimating the amount of "medical expenses" one can deduct from income taxes for assisted living costs? All the information online I've seen say something like "part or all of your assisted living costs may qualify for the medical expense tax deduction".
When I asked the business director at the assisted living facility, they sent me a 2-page boilerplate document that said "For residents requiring assistance with 2 or more activities of daily living in our Life Guidance Program, 100% of the fees paid ... could likely[my emphasis] be deductible for tax purposes."
My Mom does meet that requirement, and is paying a monthly supplement for an enhanced plan-of-care above the basic monthly cost for the apartment (the basic rent includes meals, cleaning, laundry, 24-hr access to medical staff, prescription management, free transportation to medical offices, etc..).
They referred me to IRS Publication 502 "Medical and Dental Expenses", but it is not clear what qualifies in her situation. Under "Nursing Home" the IRS says:
You can include in medical expenses the cost of medical care in a nursing home, home for the aged, or similar institution, for yourself, your spouse, or your dependents. This includes the cost of meals and lodging in the home if a principal reason for being there is to get medical care.
Don't include the cost of meals and lodging if the reason for being in the home is personal. You can, however, include in medical expenses the part of the cost that is for medical or nursing care. [my emphasis]
That last paragraph would seem to indicate that you can't deduct 100% of the assisted living costs, but the percentage of those costs related to the provision of medical care and services would be deductible? If so, can I press the assisted living facility to provide an estimate of what percentage could be claimed for medical expenses? Or is there a commonly used estimate?