Respite care deductible??

[cashjunkie]

My client takes care of a parent with significant Alzheimers...and several times a yr leaves the parent with an adult day-care facility for the weekend. I have found references to
"home-based respite care" being deductible but cannot pin down this occasional non-home based respite care.....thanks for any input.......(ps..i do not believe there is any
long term contract involved with this "occasional" facility).

[Gretel]

My opinion is that this care outside the home is done primarily because the person cannot be by himself since he is ill and therefor a deductible expense.

[travis bickle]

Please carefully read

My client takes care of a parent with significant Alzheimers...and several times a yr leaves the parent with an adult day-care facility for the weekend. I have found references to
"home-based respite care" being deductible but cannot pin down this occasional non-home based respite care.....thanks for any input.......(ps..i do not believe there is any
long term contract involved with this "occasional" facility).

pages 1 and 2 of the instructions for irs form 2441

[cashjunkie]

form 2441

well since one of the 5 "must meet" conditions are the care must be so you can work or
look for work....and this respite care is mostly on weekends to take care of other personal affairs...it would seem, then, to be non deductible as either an expense or credit.

[Gretel]

I thought the question is about "Medical expenses", I must have misunderstood. Sorry.

[cashjunkie]

was not sure myself

but i can only find "home-based" respite care as a deductible
medical expense...since this is not home based...or work related
for the 2441 credit...i am coming to the conclusion this occasional
respite care is not going to be deductible or meet the 2441 credit requirements....thanks to both for the input.

[Gretel]

Everyone taking care of a Alzheimers patient needs to have a break. I cannot see how deductibility would be different having someone coming to your home than bringing patient to someone as long as medical is the primary reason.

[spencer]

I say

push the envelope

[taxea]

It may not qualify under 2441 but it does qualify on Sch A if she is a dependent

[cashjunkie]

push the envekope

i agree...i will....i do...8-)

[FEDUKE404]

Take if a legit medical expense

I would think the criteria for taking these expenses would be the same for any other medical expense for a person requiring such assistance.

The ADL issues may come into play for the recipient of the care, but assuming they are met there should be no problem for that person. But who pays the expenses (dependent issue) ??

As for any Form 2441 relevance, that is definitely a red herring to this discussion.

FE