Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) have sent a letter to the largest assisted living operators asking a series of questions about COVID-19 outbreaks at their facilities and the actions they are taking to prevent and mitigate outbreaks when they occur. The letter was sent to Brookdale Senior Living Sunrise Senior Living, Five Star Senior Living, Atria Senior Living, Life Care Services, Senior Lifestyle Corporations, Capital Senior Living, Affinity Living Group, Enlivant, Eclipse Senior Living, and Gardant Management Solutions, each of which owns or operates more than 5,000 assisted living units…
Will Stimulus Checks Affect My Medicaid Eligibility? No. Under Medicaid rules, a stimulus payment is not counted as income. Therefore, receiving a stimulus payment does not change a resident’s monthly payment (often called a “patient pay amount” or “share of cost”). The resident pays the same monthly amount to the nursing facility and keeps the stimulus payment for their own use. In addition, the stimulus payment does not count as a Medicaid resource for 12 months. In other words, for the first year, the payment cannot cause you to have “too much” savings. EXAMPLE: An unmarried resident receives $1,082 monthly…
Consumer Voice has sent a letter, along with other advocacy organizations, to leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee opposing granting immunity to nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. AARP also sent a letter on the same topic. Giving immunity to nursing homes strips residents of their right to hold nursing homes accountable for substandard care. Legal liability has always functioned as a safeguard for nursing home residents by incentivizing nursing homes to provide quality care and comply with laws and regulations. By providing immunity, Congress would be placing nursing home residents in jeopardy at a time when they are the…
The COVID-19 pandemic is presenting significant challenges for many segments of the health care industry. For the long-term care (LTC) industry, which includes facility settings such as skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and assisted living facilities (ALFs), and home health (HH) providers, which deliver clinical and personal care services in the home, coronavirus infections are a grave concern for LTC providers and service users alike. Since the COVID-19 pandemic first surfaced in the United States, outbreaks in LTC facilities have been widespread, and it is estimated that about one-fifth of all deaths from COVID-19 are tied to nursing facilities. Older adults…
At greater risk from COVID-19, some seniors now face added anxiety due to delays obtaining Medicare coverage. Advocates for older people say the main problem involves certain applications for Medicare’s “Part B” coverage for outpatient care. It stems from the closure of local Social Security offices in the coronavirus pandemic. Part B is particularly important these days because it covers lab tests, like ones for the coronavirus. For more click HERE For a complete list of upcoming seminars, visit our website at www.davidwingate.com. Peace of mind is only a call or click away! For an Initial Consultation…
President Trump Thursday announced the formation of an independent commission to look at the response of nursing homes to the coronavirus. The move comes as nursing home operators clamor for more equipment and testing. In comments at a White House event, Trump acknowledged that nursing homes were “a spot that we have to take care of. I guess you could call it a little bit of a weak spot, because things are happening at the nursing homes that we’re not happy about.” For more click HERE For a complete list of upcoming seminars, visit our website at…
Caring.com’s 2020 Will and Living Trust Survey Shows a Decline Among Adults With an Estate Planning Document Over the Last 3 Years and Highlights a Lack of Education as an Underlying Issue CHARLOTTE, NC; Mar. 2, 2020 — Caring.com, a leading senior care referral service with Family Advisors nationwide, has announced key findings from its annual Will and Living Trust Survey. The latest study includes feedback from 2,400 Americans and was used to examine which groups are more likely to engage in estate planning as well as their underlying reasons for having or not having a will. The survey is an…
It is my deep and sincere hope that you and your family are safe and doing well. As we all weather this unprecedented crisis caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, please know that I am here to help and assist you with your legal needs, be it Powers of Attorneys, Living Wills, Wills, Trusts and Nursing Home Asset Protection. The Law Office is still open as we are deemed an “ESSENTIAL BUSINESS.” We are doing our part to help minimize the spread of the virus by utilizing email, phone, and Zoom. I am here for you. Please stay healthy…
Fact: LTC protection is not the same as health insurance, which is designed simply to cover the costs to cure individuals and return them to good health. Health insurance is intended to help pay for medical care only, not LTC services, which can include bathing, eating, getting dressed and moving around. LTC services generally are required by those who are dealing with chronic illnesses, accidents or advanced aging and are progressive, with the level of needed care growing over time. For a complete list of upcoming seminars, visit our website at www.davidwingate.com. Peace of mind is only a call…
Fact: Anyone who’s had this thought should stop to consider two crucial questions: How will I save up the money? And (more importantly) why? LTC services can be very expensive. The growing costs for care present a huge financial risk to older adults’ retirement dollars. Those who plan to take on the burden of LTC expenses for themselves and/or a spouse or other loved one could wipe out their lifetime savings much faster than they expect. Consider the facts: The average cost of a nursing home in this area is over $12,000 per month (i.e. $144,000 per year). Of all…
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