My question is my mom is in an independent senior facility in which I pay monthly rental. Can I I deduct on my income tax this year?

[SweetieJean]

Does she have any income of her own  besides Social Security?

[SweetieJean]

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[Hal_Al · Accepted solution]

Probably not. 

There are  three basic levels of senior facilities:

1. Independent living (retirement homes) are just regular homes with some senior themed amenities and are not deductible because the services are not medical

2. Assisted living may involve some medical services that are deductible. For guidance, see  http://www.elderlawanswers.com/tax-deductions-for-assisted-living-costs-7184

3. Nursing Homes are subject to the same rules as assisted living but almost always are deductible because of the medical nature of the services.

Even if the expenses are deductible as medical expenses, the next issue is are they deductible to YOU. You must have actually paid the expenses. Your mother must also be a dependent on your tax return. There is one exception; If your close relative cannot be your dependent because he had more than $4,050 of gross income, but otherwise would have qualified as your dependent (basically that you & other family members provided more than half his support), then you can include in your deductible medical expenses any qualifying medical expenses you paid on his/her behalf just as if he/she was your dependent.

[thompsam]

I understand that the monthly cost of being in an "independent living" facility is not deductible.  In my mother in law's case, because she has parkinson's, she pays extra every day for some in room services where someone from the facility's staff (not a nurse) helps her every morning and evening with personal care services such as preparing breakfast, bathing, and dressing.  From my online research, because these services are for "activities of daily living", I've concluded they are deductible.  Am I reading this correctly?