How Do I Spend Down Assets for Medicaid? Most of us will require nursing home or other long-term care at some point in our lives. What’s worrying is how expensive it is. Medicare coverage for long-term care is very limited; private health insurance policies generally do not cover long-term care; and few people have private long-term care insurance policies. While overall costs vary, Texans needing nursing care Read More
Three Tips for Helping Your Loved One Transition Into an Assisted Living Facility
Even when your elderly loved one intends to live independently or live with you for as long they can, at any moment it is possible that a health crisis could arise that makes this impossible. This is a huge reason why it is important for us all to plan our finances carefully to allow for the possibility of spending time in an assisted living facility or nursing home. If your loved one has found him or herself in this Read More
The Difference Between Elder Law and Estate Planning
The terms “elder law” and “estate planning” are often used interchangeably, but in fact, they are two separate, yet related, areas of law. As the average lifespan increases, individuals have to consider what type of quality of life they want in their golden years and how they will achieve it. They also, of course, must make considerations for what will happen after they pass away. This is the primary difference Read More
What You Need to Know About Medicaid Eligibility As You Age
In recent years, the cost of care for elderly people -- such as nursing home enrollment, adult daycare programs, and in-home care -- has skyrocketed beyond what most people can afford. Even people who have never struggled to make ends meet financially throughout their adulthood look at the costs of being cared for as they age and think, “There is no way I will ever be able to afford that.” How do people afford Read More
Understanding the Difference Between Medicare and Medicaid
How well have you planned for your healthcare? Do you have proper coverage in case anything unfortunate happens? Medicare and Medicaid are two government-run healthcare programs that were created to cater to older and lower-income citizens who cannot afford to buy private health insurance. While these programs were both introduced in 1965 to relieve low-income families of the burden of illness, they are different in Read More
Nursing Home Abuse: What to Watch For
The need for home care in the United States is expected to skyrocket soon. A Census report published in 2017 puts the national population of boomers over 60 years at 15.2% of the total population - roughly 49.2 million. Even more, 3.2 million of them are currently residing in senior homes. This means that the number of people who need home and personal care is rising and with it, the concern for best hospice Read More
Elder Law: How to Keep Long-Term Care Costs From Draining Your Finances
When retirement comes, you want to enjoy every moment of your golden years. You have probably thought about these years throughout your life: the endless vacations, the freedom from working, the time to finally work on your book, go golfing, and more. This is all possible IF you do not end up requiring long-term care, which can significantly drain your finances and ultimately ruin your retirement goals. Here is how Read More
Texas Elder Law: Understanding Lady Bird Deeds
When looking for the best way to pass any type of real estate, including your home, on to your loved ones when the time comes, it is a good idea to consider a lady bird deed, also known as an enhanced life estate deed. Lady bird deeds are a great way to help your loved ones avoid the costs and difficulties of going through the probate process in order to get their inheritance. This particular type of deed, however, Read More
Are You Eligible for Medicaid? A Brief Overview of the Income Criteria
Medicaid is a government health insurance program run jointly by the federal and state governments. It is the largest source of health coverage in the United States, with over 70 million people enrolled. The program is designed to help ensure those with lower income are able to get the health care they need. When trying to determine whether or not you are eligible for Medicaid, checking the income criteria is a great Read More
7 Key Indicators of Elder Abuse or Exploitation
Most of us grow up being taught that we should always respect our elders. Those who have reached an advanced age in their life are deserving of no less than dignity and kind regard. Unfortunately, due to the physical and mental decline inherent in the aging process, seniors are also one of the most vulnerable segments of our population, and there are always going to be people out there who seek to prey on the Read More