Are you running from baseball practice to your parent’s doctor’s appointment? Fielding stressful texts and calls from both your children and your parents about everything that’s changing in their lives, perhaps you’re trying to figure out what’s changing? Do you maybe feel like you’re being squished between two pieces of stale bread, with no room to breathe? Well, you might be part of the Sandwich Generation.
If you haven’t heard the phrase before, “The Sandwich Generation” means you’re not only a caretaker for your children, but you’ve also become responsible for your parents’ care needs as well. It can be stressful to be pulled in so many directions at one time. When the responsibilities come to be too much for one person’s schedule, families typically begin the nursing home/assisted living conversation, which can be tricky to navigate.
The biggest question: How are we going to pay for a nursing home?
“Caring for a family member who may not have long-term care or short-term care insurance or disability insurance, can drain your own savings and disrupt your own retirement plans. A recent AARP study found that many adults in their 40s, 50s and 60s are helping their parents financially.” - From a CNN article from February 2023 about family caregivers
Pricing and location are typically the first logistics families look at when searching for long term care. It’s very important to find a facility that works for your loved one’s care needs, budget, and socialization.
No matter your situation, it can be difficult to saddle a new bill each month if you’re paying for long-term care. Luckily, there are quite a few solutions to help ease this financial burden. At Ard Law Firm, PLLC, we take an individualized approach to each client’s case, factoring in your needs, assets, and personal values in order to create the best plan forward for you, and your family.
Our biggest focus is on asset protection and probate avoidance– we do our best to help future generations carry on the legacy of past generations. Getting all of your ducks in a row will require some collaboration with us, but our process is designed to save you the headache of penalty periods and reduce, or even eliminate, the burden of probate later down the line.
Medicaid Myths
If you’re financially helping your parents with the cost of their care, then it’s time to call an Elder Law Attorney adept at Medicaid. There are many myths surrounding Medicaid, probably because the program varies from state to state and new laws dictating Medicaid are passed every year. It’s hard to hit the moving target of Medicaid when you have so many other things to take care of.
Luckily, we have a dedicated Medicaid team that will guide you and your family through the application process and follow it until your loved one is approved for financial assistance to pay for a nursing home. We file complaints and appeals on your behalf while also staying in contact with the Medicaid office to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Check out Sandy’s Medicaid Myths fact sheet to learn more about Medicaid eligibility and logistics: Download 2023 Medicaid Myths
Protect the Family Home
One of the biggest Medicaid Myths we hear is that “Medicaid will make me sell the house” – FALSE!
We always recommend waiting to sell the house until you talk with a licensed attorney who works on Medicaid. With asset and income limits and exemptions, it’s important to learn about all of your options. For instance, there is a document called a “Transfer on Death Deed” which has been incredibly helpful to keep the family home out of probate and in the hands of the next generation.
Seek Professional Counsel
As you can see, there are many different legal details that go into getting qualified for Medicaid. At the beginning of the process, you will have to provide ample paperwork to prove medical and financial necessity to the Medicaid office, but those efforts can really pay off in the end when the house is securely transferred outside of probate and Medicaid has covered a substantial portion of nursing home costs.
Each case is unique–the earlier you speak to an expert in the field, or a licensed attorney familiar with Medicaid, the more control over your plan you’ll have. Call us today to schedule your free consultation 713-429-0218. Our director of client services will send you a questionnaire prior to your meeting. One of our attorneys will review your answers and start the conversation about your options to pay for nursing home care. If for some reason we’re unable to provide services to you and your family, we will do our best to refer you to an attorney who can help.
Comments