How can I afford to care for my parents?
Does Medicare cover nursing home care?
How can we help?
- Do be sure your loved one is safe from elder abuse, danger and fraud.
- Do have your parent sign a health-care power of attorney so that you can make medical decisions if necessary.
- Do talk with your loved one about long-term care planning and insurance.
- Do inquire about home health care through an established, licensed agency.
- Do evaluate local financial assistance programs for seniors and inquire if your loved one qualifies.
Do's
- Do join a local caregiver support group by contacting your local area Agency on Aging.
- Do ask your parents for copies of their important documents such as: long-term care policies, life insurance policies, living will, Health care proxy, DNR status, power of attorney, and trusts.
- Do take account of your parent’s assets and liabilities, find out what they owe (insurance premiums, mortgage/rent, auto payments) and what they receive (Social Security benefits, IRAs, investments or pensions).
- Don’t forget to ask your parents if they have established beneficiaries on their financial accounts.
- Don’t be shy about reaching out to friends and neighbors; you'll likely meet people in similar situations who understand exactly what you're going through.
- Don't overlook adult health centers that may be close to home or work, they offer safe daytime programs for the elderly.
Don'ts
- Don't miss the chance to talk with your loved one about his or her values and expectations as you will want to honor those wishes.
- Don't wait to look into senior living communities, do it as soon as possible, many have waiting lists.
- Don't let too much time go by when trying to discover financial accounts, dementia can progress in the elderly and forgetfulness is very common.
Comprehensive Financial Help – Advice and Implementation
List of Services
- Generating a Financial Statement
- Evaluating the pros and cons of setting up a trust
- Establishing estate beneficiaries
- Projecting elder care living expenses
- Analyzing current and future cash flow
- Working with eldercare attorneys to establish estate strategies
- Reviewing adult care options.
- Assisting with long term care benefits and claims initiation.
- Formalizing end of life care decisions.
- Providing access to HIPAA release forms, health care proxies, and DNR forms.
- Setting up budget and financial management strategies using our proprietary on-line program.
Interested in having us help you?
Judy’s Challenge
Ruth is the mother of four middle-aged children, Judy is her only daughter. Ruth lost her husband at 75 years old, she was able to remain in the family home in close proximity to friends, neighbors, and family. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren grow and she had little concern about finances thanks to her husband’s generous pension plan and his decent social security benefits. Today, Ruth is 86 years old. Her vision is impaired and recently she had to give up her driver's license, she is also unsteady on her feet. About six months ago Ruth fell and broke her hip. She recovered in a rehabilitation facility and returned home with just a few weeks of nursing services before she was on her own. Although Ruth was visited frequently by family and friends, she lived alone at home. Judy stepped in as much as possible cooking, cleaning and running errands. She also managed much of Ruth’s finances. Despite running her own household of three, and maintaining a full-time job, Judy kept it all together. Her kids called her “Super Mom”.
About 6 months after hip surgery, Ruth fell again and was rushed to the hospital. The case management team told Judy that her mom could no longer safely live alone at home and encouraged Judy to seek full-time care for her mother. Ruth did not have enough funds to pay for full-time care. Judy was exhausted, she knew her mom had a long term care policy, but she was not able to access the benefits right away. Judy gave us a call. At first, we determined what would be covered by Medicare, then we projected out-of-pocket costs and related expenses. Next, we reviewed the long term care policy’s elimination period and necessary requirements Ruth had to meet to activate coverage. Using Ruth's income sources, we created a financial plan that worked! During the elimination period, we helped Judy find licensed professionals to assist with her mom’s care at home. We had a discussion about the importance of physician statements, and medically necessary durable medical equipment that would be paramount for Ruth to remain safe at home. And we provided Judy with a plan to get her mom's care covered.
Our analysis of the costs to keep Ruth home prior to her acceptance into the nursing home was pretty much spot-on. Judy was relieved to have the help and knowledge that there was enough money and coverage for her mom’s elder care needs.
Parting Thoughts...
Stress and anxiety can often slip away when you lose yourself in a great story. A well-written novel can transport you to other realms, letting tensions drain away and allowing you to relax. ~ Dr. R. Emmons