Where do you turn when an aging parent is diagnosed with dementia or suddenly has a stroke? What do you do when your family hits a situation where mom, dad, grandma or grandpa can’t stay at home anymore? What if a loved one is struggling with health issues that you don’t really understand?
Many people turn to friends, neighbors or relatives who’ve dealt with something similar once before. Support from friends is always needed in difficult situations like this, but you may also greatly benefit from professional advice and guidance from those who understand the ins and outs of what you’re dealing with.
Edwards Group deals with the issues of aging every day, and we help guide people through the difficult process. There are many things to consider:
- what type of care
- which facility
- how to pay for it
- which legal documents you need
- asset transfers
- how to protect the healthy spouse who’s still at home
- dealing with complicated benefit applications
Our Elder Care Advisors are equipped and experienced in helping families through just about any issue they face.
Two Types of Help for Aging Parents and Loved Ones
There are two types of benefits in particular that can be helpful in paying for care that may be needed as a loved one ages:
1. VETERANS BENEFITS
Wartime veterans or their widows may qualify for benefits from the VA to help pay for care as they age. This benefit may be available to pay for in-home care, assisted living, or a nursing home.
In order to qualify for the maximum benefit, legal planning may be needed. We work with families regularly to help prepare them to qualify for the maximum benefit. A married veteran may qualify for over $2,200 per month in benefits. A widow of a veteran may qualify for over $1,200 per month in benefits.
The VA process can be complicated. Let us help your family understand the potential benefits and what planning may be needed before your application is filed.
2. MEDICAID BENEFITS
When a loved one needs nursing home care, that is one of the most stressful things a family faces. We help families every day deal with this difficult issue.
One of the biggest concerns is often “how do we pay for it?” Nursing homes are expensive, often $10,000 per month or more. For many families, that cost will eat up their savings within a short time. Medicaid benefits are one option that can be used to pay for care and protect some of your wealth. (70% of nursing home residents in the U. S. rely on Medicaid to pay their bill each month.)
If your family is faced with nursing home care and are paying out of pocket, we may be able to help. We have many legal planning tools available to maximize benefits and protect the family’s wealth, while still getting good care for your aging parent. Some families are surprised that we may be able to get a loved one to qualify for Medicaid benefits sooner than expected while protecting assets in the process. (While you can apply for Medicaid benefits on your own, we don’t recommend it. Here’s why.)
HOW WE HELP FAMILIES FACING LONG-TERM CARE QUESTIONS
- We want to get families all the benefits they are entitled to. More benefits leads to more resources, and that means better care for your parent or loved one.
- Most parents want to leave something to their kids and grandkids. Our planning helps make sure that those who matter most to you will be taken care of when you’re gone.
- No parent ever dreams of using up all their savings on a nursing home stay, but it happens fast. We have legal tools and resources to help preserve assets and find other ways to fund long-term care.
- Parents never want to be a burden to their children. Good planning relieves your children of the stress that comes from scrambling to figure out how to pay for care you might need and the huge amount of paperwork that comes with that crisis.
- Planning like this isn’t greedy. It’s wise — kind of like minimizing income taxes every year through the use of an accountant. You’ve worked hard all your life. Why not protect as much as the law allows?
Chances for good planning disappear with time. The sooner you contact us, the more we can do to help. As elder law attorneys, our main goals are to:
- Help carry out the wishes of the client.
- Help clients access all available resources.
If you have a loved one facing changes in their living arrangements, please contact us to discuss your options. Our staff is specially trained in Medicaid and VA Benefits, both of which are important when it comes to long-term care planning.
