We are to help you find nursing homes. However, if you want to do it by yourself, here are some steps so you can find a good nursing home and avoid a bad one. Make a List: Start by contacting the Department of Aging for a list of local nursing home facilities. Ideally, the facilities should be close to family members and friends who can visit often. Residents with frequent visitors usually get better care. Do Some Research: Every year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services collect data on more than 15,000 nursing homes throughout the country. Health inspection…
A caregiver cotract is angreement between an aging parent and child, a relative or anyone else that sets forth the length of time and rate of pay for caregiving services, and the tasks to be performed. However, most children don’t want to be paid for services provided to their parents. But, the children are providing a valuable service, and may be suffering a financial loss by taking time away from a job to do so, or other activities. Also, by spending down assets to pay for caregiving, aging parents can utilize this asset protection tool to qualify for Medicaid if…
In the not too distant past residential options, for your aging parents, were a move to a nursing home or living with you. However, times have changed with assisted living facilities and home care agencies. Consequently, these options can potentially provide a new lease on life, for your parents, whether it be for a short time or for many years. Home care varies, depending on your parent’s needs and resources, from full-time or part-time assistance. Are you're parents unsteady on their feet, a fall risk, not taking their medications, eating enough, require some caregiving assistance, or help with housework? Therefore,…
When the time comes, as does for most of us, that we need assistance in our daily living, the unfortunate fact is that too many of us end up in nursing homes – not because we need constant nursing care, but because there no other good options. A provision of the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act may help change that. According to a recent article in the LA times, the most ambitious part of the Act, as it relates to long-term care is the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act, or CLASS – a voluntary, consumer-financed insurance…
Medicare does not pay for all the nursing home costs. Medicare Part A covers up to 100 days of "skilled nursing" care per spell of illness. However, the definition of "skilled nursing" care and the other conditions for obtaining Medicare coverage are rigorous. Consequently, few nursing home residents receive the full 100 days of coverage. Therefore, Medicare pays only about 9 percent of nursing home care in the United States. Medicaid will pay for nursing home costs. However, their are stringent qualifications. Check out the 2011 Medicare and You Handbook on the Medicare website ensure you receive the nursing care…
The greatest fears of seniors are one, running out of money, and two, ending up in a nursing home. Consequently, they lose their personal independence. Also, the loss of their hard earned savings. The average cost of nursing home care in Maryland is approximately $100,000 to $150,000 per year, dependent on your location, within the state. Unfortunately, most seniors pay for nursing home care utilizing their savings until it’s depleted. Subsequently, they qualify for Medicaid. Therefore, Medicaid will pay the cost of the nursing home, less all the senior’s income. With asset planning, whether in advance or in response to…
“When you buy a car or a house, you expect to haggle for the best price. It turns out that you can do the same thing when you shop for long-term care.” There are some things you just don’t haggle about but, perhaps contrary to what you would guess, it turns out that long-term care isn’t one of those things. Long-term care is expensive, to say the least, but as explained in a recent article in SmartMoney, there are some expenses that may be negotiable. Nursing homes usually will not negotiate fees, but you may be able to negotiate with…
Your mother has tithed (gifted) to her religious organization in the amount of $50 per week for years. Additionally, she has given her 10 grandchildren $20 every Christmas and on each of their birthdays. Thus, she has made charitable and small family gifts totaling $15,000 throughout the course of the last five years. Your mother has savings of less than $2,000 and now requires nursing home care. Therefore, your mother will qualify for Medicaid benefits to help pay for her care. However, she will not qualify for benefits because all gifts, even small ones, even charitable gifts, made within the…
In 2009, your father was 80 years old and in reasonably good health. He gave $20,400 to his grandson to pay for college in 2009. However, last month he has a stroke. As a result of the stroke, he is totally incapacitated and in need of nursing home care. However, he is not yet in a nursing home, but his total assets are $2,000. During this month, you inquire about his placement at a nursing home. The nursing home questions you about your father’s finances and any past transfers, and you report the $20,400 gift made for his grandson’s education….
So, when is the right time to start planning? You should pick up the phone right now and call Senior Life Care Planning at 301 663 9230 or email our office.
Frederick, MD 
301-663-9230
