It is up to you to keep an eye on your aging parents to see if they need living assistance. Though some parents are forthcoming in telling their children that they need help, some are too proud to do so. And people who are suffering from dementia may not even recognize that they need help making decisions.
This can be a sensitive topic to discuss, but it is a subject that must be addressed all the same. The majority of senior citizens will need assistance at some juncture, and that assistance is usually provided by family members or friends.
70% of the senior citizens in the United States who are receiving living assistance stay at home and have people close to them providing the help. For many, this is a viable option.
However, there often comes a time when in-home care is simply not enough. In fact, the United States Department of Health and Services tells us that there is a 40% chance that an American who reaches the age of 65 will ultimately reside in a nursing home.
The matter of nursing home care is something that you may want to discuss with an experienced elder law attorney. This care is very expensive, and Medicare does not pay for an extended stay in such a facility.
There are things that can be done, such as taking steps to obtain Medicaid eligibility so Medicaid will pay for long-term care.
Don’t hesitate to set up a consultation an elder law attorney if you have questions about how you can best assist an aging parent or parents.
John’s practice focuses on the use of Wills and Living Trusts in Estate Planning to help individuals protect their families and preserve their legacies after their deaths, but his practice also focuses on the critical issues of protecting individuals with dementia or other diminished capacity, assisting individuals in qualifying for Medicaid and other government benefits to offset the costs of long-term care, and providing special needs planning.
John is admitted to practice law in North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Ohio, and he is accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- What You Need to Know about the Medicaid Look-Back Rule - January 3, 2023
- How to Pass Down Your Legacy in Your Estate Plan - October 3, 2022
- Practical Steps to Take after Receiving a Terminal Diagnosis - September 30, 2022
