An Inheritance Planning Review that got me wondering

I’d like some advice regarding my Mother’s inheritance planning review she did recently. She has been talking about it for some time and I’ve read all sorts of different opinions but haven’t yet decided which option to go for. Essentially she has around £200,000 that she doesn’t need access to or income from at the moment. She’d like to give it away to myself and my 2 brothers, but we are worried that she may need it in the future, for example if she goes into a care home. If she gave the money away then my other brothers would most likely spend it on reducing their existing debts which would mean the money is no longer available should she need it again. Then if she has to go into a care home she would have to pay for this herself as she has over £23,000 in her estate. We’d like to avoid selling her house as it’s a family home so would rather use the £200,000 she has available but at the same time if she passes away with this in her estate then we’d have to pay £80,000 tax from the money, which we’d rather avoid.

Mother said that there is a way to keep the money available to her should she need it but also have it sit outside her estate for inheritance tax planning purposes. Then there is the possibility that she could give us gifts over a period of time from this investment should we need it. I know my brothers would like to get their hands on it sooner rather than later, but I’m not sure I should talk to them about it. I’ll let you know what I decide.