potterlaw

North Carolina and Kentucky Estate Planning Attorneys

NC (704) 944-3245
KY (606) 324-5516
Attend a Free Seminar THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
  • Practice Areas
    • Asset Protection & Business Planning
    • Elder Law & Medicaid Services
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • Pet Planning
    • Probate
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
  • Elder Law
    • Emergency Medicaid & Nursing Home Planning
    • Guardianship & Conservatorship
    • Coping With Alzheimer’s
    • Hospice Care
    • Medicaid Planning
    • Nursing Home Planning
    • Veterans Benefits
  • Communities We Serve
    • Kentucky
      • Boyd County
        • Ashland
        • Florence
      • Kenton County
        • Covington
        • Independence
        • Fort Mitchell
    • North Carolina
      • Mecklenburg County
        • Charlotte
        • Huntersville
        • Davidson
  • Resources
    • Definitions
    • DocuBank
    • Elder Law
      • Elder Law Reports
      • Elder Law Links
      • Local Elder Law Resources
        • Ashland Elder Law Resources
    • Free Estate Planning Seminars
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Estate Planning FAQ’s
      • Trust Administration & Probate Frequently Asked Questions
      • Legacy Wealth Planning FAQ’s
      • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
      • LGBT Estate Planning Frequently Asked Questions
    • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
    • Kentucky Probate Resources
      • Ashland, Kentucky Probate Resources
    • North Carolina Probate Resources
      • Huntersville, NC Probate Resources
    • Newsletters
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Elder Law Reports
      • Estate Planning for Niches
      • Trust Administration
  • Contact Us
  • BLOG

Elder Law Lawyers Discuss Important Nursing Home Issues

September 1, 2017 by John Potter

elder law lawyersThe prospect of living assistance can seem foreign when you have been fully capable of handling all of your own day-to-day tasks throughout your life. Without question, this is not a very pleasant subject, but you should be aware of the facts when you are devising a plan for aging. In this article, our elder law lawyers will discuss some of the most important issues relating to nursing home care.

Will I really need nursing home care?

In reality, most senior citizens will need long-term care of some kind or another, and many will ultimately require nursing home care. According to government reports, nearly seven out of every 10 senior citizens will someday need living assistance. This is a very profound statistic. The reality is that most people will need help with their activities of daily living at some point in time.

Don’t Overestimate Medicare Coverage

When you read the above statistics, they may get your attention, but you may not be concerned because you know that you will be qualified for Medicare coverage when you attain senior citizen status. Medicare will certainly provide a foundational source of health insurance, but unfortunately, Medicare does not pay for nursing home care. The program is set up to pay for convalescent care after an injury or illness, but it does not pay for custodial care.

Medicaid may provide assistance to cover the cost of nursing home care

One widely embraced solution is Medicaid. This government health insurance program does pay for long-term care. However, qualifying can be difficult, because it is a program that is only available to people that can demonstrate significant financial need. To qualify at the ideal time, you must plan ahead in a careful and informed manner. If you would like to discuss Medicaid planning strategies, our elder law lawyers can help. We offer free consultations.

 How Expensive Is Long-Term Care?

When you are going through life as a healthy adult, long-term care could be completely off of your radar.  Indeed, it can be hard to imagine a time when you may not be able to handle all of your own affairs. However, when you look into the subject objectively, you may be someone unpleasantly surprised. The majority of elders will eventually need help with their activities of daily living. In fact, the figure is 70 percent according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

If you paid into the program throughout your working career, you will qualify for Medicare at the age of 65 under currently existing laws, but Medicare does not pay for long-term care. The Medicare program will pay for convalescent care after surgery, but it does not pay for long-term living assistance.

Nursing Home Asset Protection

For many, the long-term care solution is going to be Medicaid. This government program does pay for long-term care, and most seniors in nursing homes are relying on Medicaid to pick up the tab.

Unfortunately, you do not automatically qualify for Medicaid if you need long-term care. This is a need-based program, so there is a limit on countable assets. For an individual, this limit is $2000 at the present time. There are some assets that would not be counted by Medicaid evaluators. If you take the right steps in advance, with the assistance of our elder law lawyers, you may be able to qualify for Medicaid without losing a great deal in the process.

Nursing Home Agreements

Did you know that the annual cost of a nursing home in Kentucky and North Carolina is well over $70,000? While the care of your loved one is certainly first and foremost, let’s take a moment to address another of the aspects involved – that of the nursing home agreement.

The number of pages of a nursing home admission agreement often goes into double-digits, and responsible family members are often facing challenges involving the care of their loved one. This can result in a legal nightmare when the family is unpleasantly surprised later when they find out just what they agreed to. Things to keep an eye out for:

  • Restrictive visiting hours for family members,
  • Liberal guidelines regarding the eviction or transfer of the resident, and
  • A requirement that a family member accept financial responsibility for the resident.

Some agreements may violate federal law

These types of requirements in a nursing home contract may violate federal law; specifically, the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987. Nursing home agreements may have a place for a third party to sign, usually after the resident and the nursing home representative. This third party is often referred to as the “responsible party.” The agreements are not always clear as to what the obligation of this person is. But a nursing home may not obligate a third-party to pay the resident’s bills out of their own financial resources as a condition for allowing the resident to enter or to continue to stay in the nursing home.

Our elder law lawyers are well-versed in nursing home law and can help you review a nursing home agreement and advise you on its true meaning and intent, not to mention the legality of the terms of the agreement.

If you have questions regarding nursing homes or any other elder law matters, please contact the experienced attorneys at The Potter Law Firm for a consultation. You can contact us either online or by calling us at (704) 944-3245 (Charlotte, NC) or for individuals in Kentucky at (606) 324-5516 (Ashland, KY) or at (859) 372-6655 (Florence, KY).

  • About
  • Latest Posts

John Potter

Latest posts by John Potter (see all)

  • What Happens If I Leave Assets Out of My Living Trust? - February 15, 2019
  • What are the Advantages of an Irrevocable Trust? - February 14, 2019
  • Charlotte Medicaid Attorneys Explain How to Protect Healthy Spouses - February 11, 2019

Filed Under: Elder Law

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Charlotte elder law attorneys
Why North Carolina Residents May Need a Charlotte Elder Law Attorney
Ashland elder law attorneys
Ashland Elder Law Attorney Dispels the Myths
elder law
What is the Definition of Elder Law?
Charlotte elder law attorneys
Charlotte elder law attorneys Discuss an Important Medicaid Rule
Huntersville veterans aid and attendance attorneys
Huntersville Veterans Aid and Attendance Attorneys Can Protect Your Benefits
Florence elder law attorneys
Senior Pet Owners Should Consider Creating a Pet Trust

Free Estate Planning Worksheet

There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe to Our Blog

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Testimonials

John Potter has been a real pleasure to work with. He is very knowledgeable and explains things in a very simplistic manner so the average person can understand how/why the laws are written. He is very attentive and asks questions in such a way that not only helps him understand your goals, but also helps you think about what type of goals and expectations you should be considering. Exemplary client service.
David J.
My husband and I selected Ms. Potter to assist with our small business. She responsive and attentive every time I have a question or need assistance, and is extremely knowledgeable and able to answer any legal question I have had. I know I can count on Ms. Potter for all of my business legal needs and I would highly recommend her to anyone needing legal assistance with such.
Jillian
Overall The Potter Firm was very professional. They took what could of been a very complicated process and were able to break it down so it was a lot easier to understand. We are confident we now have made the right decisions in our estate planning. Good firm to work with.
DKS & KMS

Where We Are

Ashland

ASHLAND
1620 Carter Avenue
Ashland, KY 41101-7631
Phone: (606) 324-5516
Fax: (606) 324-4766

Charlotte

CHARLOTTE
15720 Brixham Hill Avenue
Suite 300,
Charlotte, NC 28277
Phone: (704) 944-3245

Huntersville

HUNTERSVILLE
11330 Vanstory Drive
Huntersville, NC 28078
Phone: (704) 944-3245

Northern Kentucky

NORTHERN KENTUCKY
7310 Turfway Road
Suite 550,
Florence, KY 41042
Phone: (859) 372-6655

Office Hours

Monday8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday8:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Map/Location

potter_sidbr_map

Search

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this or associated pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. The information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Disclaimer | Site Map | Powered by American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

© 2019 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc. THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT