THE MEDICAID NIGHTMARE AND PAYING FOR LONG TERM CARE.

Selecting a living facility and choosing the appropriate care for an older family member is extremely difficult and may be one of the most challenging decisions to make for a person you love and care for.

It often involves moving from a place called “home” for many years to a place that may seem intimidating. The family member may not know any of the other residents, it could be in a different city of town, and may be in an entirely different climate than what the person is accustomed to.

At Kelly & Kelly, PC, many of our clients wrestle with these decisions along with the challenge of how to pay for the care of a loved one.  Many don’t realize that there are different levels of care depending upon the needs of the family member. That an “assisted living” facility is a place that may provide the greatest amount of independence, social interaction, and if your loved one is in good health, can cook and clean for themselves, do their own laundry could be a terrific option. On the other hand, family members who need more medical care, are cognitively challenged, require frequent attention and monitoring may need to reside in a “nursing home”.

Paying for care at either an assisted living facility or a nursing home can prove to be difficult. In Michigan, the average monthly cost of an assisted living facility is almost $3,000, while a nursing home is almost $7,000! Your plan may be to pay the cost of care until the money runs out, but what do you do after that? What if your spouse requires care in a nursing home, but you do not?

We believe it is important to plan ahead rather than ignore the “elephant in the room” and our attorneys will work with you to educate you on the options available. Even if your loved one is already in a facility, it may not be too late to plan.

Contact us to learn of your options. Plan ahead to ensure a better quality of life later on.