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Articles Posted in Long-term Care Planning

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what-next-1-924436-mWhen we get to a certain age, we sometimes experience what is jokingly referred to as a “senior moment.” We forget a name, miss an appointment or overlook a bill.

But if forgetfulness or confusion starts to seriously interfere with daily life, it’s time seek medical help. The symptoms could point to Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.

What are the warning signs?

How can you tell if someone in your life is more than just a little forgetful and needs a medical evaluation? The Alzheimer’s Association lists these 10 early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s: Continue reading

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iStock_000016746886Smallby Carmine Perri

You want to apply for Medicaid – a complicated process – but you’ve heard that hiring an attorney specializing in Medicaid planning is expensive.

So why not use one of those new services that say they’ll do the same thing for less?

But do they really do the same thing?

The State of Florida doesn’t think so. Continue reading

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By Carmine Perri

Litigator_cartoonIf you or your loved one is in a nursing home, you need to know your rights! Once you understand what they are, you can better stand up for them.

Just as you are protected in your own home by a set of laws, residents of nursing homes are protected by a Code of Federal Regulations. The “Code” ensures that residents’ right are promoted and protected.

Unfortunately, there are times when this does not happen. And when this is the case, you need to make your voice heard.

But first, you must know your rights. Take a look below at some key resident rights that are often challenged. And let us know if you think they are being violated, we can help you. Continue reading

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Worried womanIf you want Medicaid in Connecticut to pay for your long-term care, one thing you should NOT to do is give away your assets – unless you think you won’t need Medicaid within the next five years.

When you apply for Medicaid for long-term care in either a nursing home or in the community, you are required to provide financial records for the past five years. This is called the “look back” period. Continue reading

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By Carmine Perri

iStock_000016746886SmallImagine yourself in this situation: As a favor, you agree to help your spouse’s parent get settled into a nursing home.

If you’re like most people, you’d be emotionally stressed and feeling a bit guilty.  Not exactly the best mindset for absorbing complex information nor for making legally-binding decisions.

But that’s exactly what some nursing home admission coordinators encourage people to do when they ask them to sign an Admissions Agreement while they’re at the nursing home for the first time.

This often ends up being a painful mistake. If you don’t completely understand Continue reading

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iStock_000007924623SmallYou did well financially, and when the time came to move to assisted living you never considered the possibility that you might run out of money.

But you didn’t expect to live this long! And now that you need more help, it’s even more expensive to live.

What do you do?

The State of Connecticut created the Private Assisted Living Pilot Program – available for up to 125 qualifying individuals in Connecticut who have spent down their assets as a result of living in private assisted living facilities. Continue reading

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RetirementAlzheimer’s Disease is just for old people, right? Wrong.

About 200,000 Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer’s are less than 65 years old. Some are in their 40’s and 50’s with children still living at home or in college. The financial implications are frightening. What happens if the breadwinner gets Alzheimer’s?

Over the past few years there have been several high profile stories in the news that highlight the reality of younger onset Alzheimer’s.

Here’s one of them – Continue reading

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iStock_000018435449SmallIndependent Living. Assisted Living. Nursing Home. What do these terms mean? How are they different from each other? And which one is right for you? Take a look here to learn what each one is all about.

Independent Living

Maybe you’re starting to think that a little more help would make life easier. You’re still living in the two-story house you raised your kids in. Maybe your spouse is gone, or maybe not, living is just getting to be too much.

Your daughter wonders aloud if you’d be happier in a retirement community where everything is Continue reading

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tree-of-love-4-1330924-mCould you ever imagine that leaving your spouse out of your Will could be a great thing?

It’s true. Even in the best of marriages, there may be times when it makes sense to disinherit your spouse. And it’s all for his or her protection.

Typically, a married couple’s Wills provide that when one dies, the estate passes to the other. However, there may be certain circumstances where this may not be the best plan. Consider the following example:

The Smiths are an elderly married couple. Bill is in a nursing home on Medicaid. Mary is still living in their home. Bill is called the “institutionalized spouse” and Mary is called the “community spouse” or “well spouse.”

What if Mary were to die first?

If Mary’s Will leaves everything to Bill, the assets he inherits might make him ineligible for Medicaid, Continue reading

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iStock_000019669901SmallAssets count when it comes to qualifying for Medicaid as we discussed in a previous post, “How to Qualify for Medicaid Benefits by Planning Now.” However, some assets related to your funeral expenses are excluded, and prepaying them is an acceptable way to spend down your assets to qualify for Medicaid, or Title XIX.

Here’s what the State of Connecticut allows:

Irrevocable Funeral Trust or Contract

You can prepay up to $10,000 for an irrevocable funeral trust, also called an irrevocable funeral contract. This covers basic service charges, funeral services, preparation of remains, vehicles, etc. Keep in mind that this type of contract cannot be canceled or cashed in. It can only be transferred to another licensed funeral home. Continue reading

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