As Elder Law Attorneys, we meet with clients on a daily basis who are on an emotional roller coaster. Life was rolling merrily along for them, then all of a sudden they received some bad news - Mom or Dad is in the hospital. After a few days, the news is worse - The Diagnosis is Alzheimer's AND Mom or Dad can't go back home - they are having to go to a nursing home. AND the kids have to select a nursing home for Mom or Dad to go to within 24 hours AND the nursing home costs $5,000 per month.
If your other parent is alive and living at home, no doubt all of this has hit them like a freight train. Will they still be able to live at home ALONE without assistance, or will they need assistance? If they do need assistance, what type will they need?
If Mom or Dad is single, some of the questions are: What do we do with the home? Will he get to return home? Should we sell the home? Where are his bank accounts? Are all bills paid? How will we pay for all of this?
We realize that when an adult child walks into our office, they are reeling from all of the above and more. This is where we try to slow down the process, take you by the hand and help!
Medicaid is the program that will pay for your parent's long term care - yes we have to get some information from you to start this process, but after that we will take the ball and run, doing everything necessary to get your parent qualified for Medicaid. This solves the financial part of the problem.
Secondly, our life care planners will meet with you and do everything possible to make sure that your parent gets the best possible care, in the least restrictive environment, without going broke.
The expense of doing all of this is not paid by you, the child, but out of your parent's spend-down - that is out of the money that they would otherwise have had to paid to the nursing home before they received Medicaid assistance.
The BEST PART is that by taking action: (1) We help your parent qualify for Medicaid sooner; (2) We help your parents preserve additional assets; (3) Our Life Care Planners work hard to make sure that your parent is receiving appropriate care.
If you are reading this, it is likely that something unexpectedly bad has happened to your parent. We can't fix that - but give us a call and we'll help to ease the pain.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Home for the Holidays with Alzheimer's
Home for the Holidays with Alzheimer's! What kind of blog post is that!? If you visited your parents this holiday season and noticed that something wasn't quite right with your parents, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
Our clients usually have very full lives, complete with spouses and children. Needless to say, their plate is full. Then one day when you come home to visit Mom or Dad, you notice that something is not right. Mom or Dad asks the same question about your youngest daughter 10 times in the space of an hour; or maybe they can’t remember your youngest daughter’s name; or maybe they don’t remember something that you did together 2 hours ago. You suspect the worst. You suspect Alzheimer’s.
Several thoughts may race through your mind. Is it really that bad, or was it just my imagination? Can Mom or Dad get by for a while longer without assistance? What type of assistance is available? Do they have enough money to pay for this? Do I have enough money to pay for this?? Do I need to quit my job and move back home? If you have other siblings, can they handle things? If your other parent is living, can they handle it?
Depending upon the severity of the experience, you may have had these and other thoughts race through your mind. Often it is not readily apparent what course of action needs to be taken. However, to get you started, here are three things that need to be done to best help Mom or Dad:
1. Help them get the best possible care. Of course, this is assuming that they actually need care. In fact you may have overreacted. However your gut feeling is a powerful thing so if you suspected something, it definitely pays to take immediate action. The first step is to get Mom or Dad evaluated by a Gerontologist, which is a doctor that specialized in problems associated with aging. There is probably one in your area. After an evaluation, they can determine what actions need to be taken. Sometimes, something as simple as change in medication may be what’s needed. In more severe cases, a stay in a geriatric-psychiatric (geri-psy) facility may be needed to optimize their medications and treatment regimen.
2. In the least restrictive environment. Obviously, the least restrictive environment is at home. If the Alzheimer’s is at an early stage, and their Gerontologist feels that, with proper medication, it would be safe for them to live at home for a while longer, then this should be considered. Another big factor is who is available to help. If your other (well) parent is still living, they will no doubt want to help and want to keep your parent with Alzheimer’s at home. Consider however, the physical, mental and emotional toll that this takes on the health of your well parent - it is often substantial. Do other siblings live close by that could help? If the situation is a little more severe, you may need to consider home health care, an Assisted Living Facility or a Skilled Care Nursing Home. Again, their Gerontologist should be able to make a proper recommendation.
3. Without going broke. All of this care is expensive. Medicare and their Medicare supplement, should pay for doctors, hospitals and up to 100 days in a skilled care nursing facility (see article on this blog about Medicare). After that it’s probably private pay (until they have spent a portion of their money), then Medicaid (see article on this blog about Medicaid).
Most people of this generation are very private regarding their finances – especially with their children. If the situation is severe, it is probably time to “meddle”. If you have siblings, then all of you may need to have the discussion with your parents together (see article on this blog about Saving the Farm). If the planning process is begun early enough, they can protect many of their assets. However, even in a crisis situation, where time is not on your side, an Elder Law attorney will be able to take many actions to preserve and protect many of their assets for their benefit.
There is no doubt that you love your parents and want the best for them. In a situation like we have discussed above, now is the time to enlist the help of professionals and take action immediately – your parents health depends on it.
Our clients usually have very full lives, complete with spouses and children. Needless to say, their plate is full. Then one day when you come home to visit Mom or Dad, you notice that something is not right. Mom or Dad asks the same question about your youngest daughter 10 times in the space of an hour; or maybe they can’t remember your youngest daughter’s name; or maybe they don’t remember something that you did together 2 hours ago. You suspect the worst. You suspect Alzheimer’s.
Several thoughts may race through your mind. Is it really that bad, or was it just my imagination? Can Mom or Dad get by for a while longer without assistance? What type of assistance is available? Do they have enough money to pay for this? Do I have enough money to pay for this?? Do I need to quit my job and move back home? If you have other siblings, can they handle things? If your other parent is living, can they handle it?
Depending upon the severity of the experience, you may have had these and other thoughts race through your mind. Often it is not readily apparent what course of action needs to be taken. However, to get you started, here are three things that need to be done to best help Mom or Dad:
1. Help them get the best possible care. Of course, this is assuming that they actually need care. In fact you may have overreacted. However your gut feeling is a powerful thing so if you suspected something, it definitely pays to take immediate action. The first step is to get Mom or Dad evaluated by a Gerontologist, which is a doctor that specialized in problems associated with aging. There is probably one in your area. After an evaluation, they can determine what actions need to be taken. Sometimes, something as simple as change in medication may be what’s needed. In more severe cases, a stay in a geriatric-psychiatric (geri-psy) facility may be needed to optimize their medications and treatment regimen.
2. In the least restrictive environment. Obviously, the least restrictive environment is at home. If the Alzheimer’s is at an early stage, and their Gerontologist feels that, with proper medication, it would be safe for them to live at home for a while longer, then this should be considered. Another big factor is who is available to help. If your other (well) parent is still living, they will no doubt want to help and want to keep your parent with Alzheimer’s at home. Consider however, the physical, mental and emotional toll that this takes on the health of your well parent - it is often substantial. Do other siblings live close by that could help? If the situation is a little more severe, you may need to consider home health care, an Assisted Living Facility or a Skilled Care Nursing Home. Again, their Gerontologist should be able to make a proper recommendation.
3. Without going broke. All of this care is expensive. Medicare and their Medicare supplement, should pay for doctors, hospitals and up to 100 days in a skilled care nursing facility (see article on this blog about Medicare). After that it’s probably private pay (until they have spent a portion of their money), then Medicaid (see article on this blog about Medicaid).
Most people of this generation are very private regarding their finances – especially with their children. If the situation is severe, it is probably time to “meddle”. If you have siblings, then all of you may need to have the discussion with your parents together (see article on this blog about Saving the Farm). If the planning process is begun early enough, they can protect many of their assets. However, even in a crisis situation, where time is not on your side, an Elder Law attorney will be able to take many actions to preserve and protect many of their assets for their benefit.
There is no doubt that you love your parents and want the best for them. In a situation like we have discussed above, now is the time to enlist the help of professionals and take action immediately – your parents health depends on it.
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