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Tag Archives: medicaid planning

Misconceptions and useful information on Medicaid planning from elder law attorneys at Gummer Elder Law – greater Philadelphia wills & estates attorneys.

Are You Afraid of Losing Your Home When You Apply for Medicaid? Don’t Be

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Medicaid planning Doylestown PA

A big concern among people moving into nursing homes is that they’ll lose their homes as they try to qualify for Medicaid.

It’s something we hear all the time in the world of Doylestown, and other Bucks County areas in  Medicaid planning, and it’s understandable that you might have this fear. No one likes the thought of the government or some giant nursing home chain swooping down to seize your house.

However, this fear is based on a misconception that potential nursing home residents have to automatically divest themselves of their homes in order to qualify for Medicaid.

In Pennsylvania, your home isn’t considered a countable resource by Medicaid if you plan to return to it after your nursing home stay.

Continue Reading Are You Afraid of Losing Your Home When You Apply for Medicaid? Don’t Be →

How to Apply for Medicaid

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apply for medicaid pa

It’s a pretty common question: “How do I apply for Medicaid?”

And it’s actually fairly simply to apply for Medicaid. PA residents essentially just need to fill out an application and send it to their county assistance office.

While it’s a long form, it’s pretty straightforward. The question really isn’t “How do I apply for Medicaid?” It’s “How do I qualify for Medicaid?”

Continue Reading How to Apply for Medicaid →

Family Caregiver Agreements

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A Solution for Keeping Your Elderly Parent at Home

Daughter Helping Senior Mother“There’s no place like home.” Dorothy’s remembrance in the Wizard of Oz immediately brings to mind our own cherished abode. Yet, as your parents age, they may not be able to live in their homes without the assistance of family members. The assistance you provide to your parents (such as cooking, cleaning, paying bills, medication schedules, etc.) is often the critical difference between their staying in their home or moving to a nursing home. Given the high cost of nursing home care ($7,500 to $10,000 per month) and the current economic climate, paying you to provide care to your parents can be a win-win solution.

When you provide care to a parent, you may need to cut back on your work schedule, or, ultimately, leave your job altogether. In turn, your parent may compensate you for your time and loss of income. This arrangement may be a viable solution for both parent and child. However, payments made to you, without a written caregiver agreement in place, may result in a period of ineligibility for Medicaid benefits for your parents. Please note, caregiver agreements may also be entered into between other family members or persons unrelated to the person requiring care. Continue Reading Family Caregiver Agreements →

The Cost of Nursing Home Care

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Senior Couples Enjoy a Meal at a Retirement CommunityToday, primarily because of the advances in medical science and personal health awareness, we are living longer than at any other time in our history.

This increased longevity may, unfortunately, bring with it increased chances for us to contract both mentally and physically debilitating diseases. Such diseases may require treatment and care that is beyond what our families are capable of providing at home. As such, many times long-term nursing home care is your only option.

Among the concerns of a family facing the prospect of admitting a loved one to a nursing home is how they will afford the costs which, in Pennsylvania, are approximately $8,000 per month. Continue Reading The Cost of Nursing Home Care →

Housing Choices for The Elderly: Planning for the Future

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Smiling senior gardening outside.In the past, most of the elderly population has received long term care in their homes. The surroundings were familiar and comfortable, and they received support from family members and friends. Improvements to the home such as ramps, chair seats, and downstairs bedrooms and bathrooms could be made to better accommodate them. Today, in our mobile society, with children moving away and the elderly living longer, other care options are increasing in popularity. This article will explore some of the other choices available to the elderly.

Option One: Independent Living

If you are in relatively good health, and do not suffer from any dementia-type disabilities, an independent living community may be a viable choice. Independent living is similar to maintaining an apartment or owning a condominium. The community provides security for its residents, as well as meals, social activities, and sports programs. Usually, independent living communities do not provide supervised medical care, but they may have a nurse on duty. Residents must pay all fees privately since independent living communities do not accept insurance or government reimbursement. Unless the resident has acquired an equity interest in their unit, they are usually required to leave the community when their financial resources have been depleted. Continue Reading Housing Choices for The Elderly: Planning for the Future →

27 Misconceptions That Can Cost You When Planning For Your Senior Years: Part 2

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SMiling Senior Couple HeadshotPlanning for your senior years is a complicated and emotionally tough task. It is often made all the tougher by the myriad misconceptions that exist about your options. There is a lot of misinformation about all aspects of senior planning, from nursing home decisions to appropriate legal documents and structure.

In this second article in a four part series, we will discuss the next 7 common costly misconceptions about planning for your senior years. We hope this discussion will help set you on the right track and make your planning decisions easier. You can find the first article in this series here. Continue Reading 27 Misconceptions That Can Cost You When Planning For Your Senior Years: Part 2 →

27 Misconceptions That Can Cost You When Planning For Your Senior Years: Part 3

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Senior Couple EatingPlanning for your senior years is a complicated and emotionally tough task. It is often made all the tougher by the myriad misconceptions that exist about your options. There is a lot of misinformation about all aspects of senior planning, from nursing home decisions to appropriate legal documents and structure.

In this third article in a four part series, we will discuss the next 7 common costly misconceptions about planning for your senior years. We hope this discussion will help set you on the right track and make your planning decisions easier. Continue Reading 27 Misconceptions That Can Cost You When Planning For Your Senior Years: Part 3 →

27 Misconceptions That Can Cost You When Planning For Your Senior Years: Part 4

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Senior Woman Planning with Doctors

Planning for your senior years is a complicated and emotionally tough task. It is often made all the tougher by the myriad misconceptions that exist about your options. There is a lot of misinformation about all aspects of senior planning, from nursing home decisions to appropriate legal documents and structure.

In this final article in a four part series, we will discuss the last of the common costly misconceptions about planning for your senior years. Please see parts one, two, and three for previous misconceptions. We hope this discussion will help set you on the right track and make your planning decisions easier. Continue Reading 27 Misconceptions That Can Cost You When Planning For Your Senior Years: Part 4 →

Protecting Your Parents

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Elder Law As we live through the latest winter storms to strike our area, we often think about how this is affecting our aging parents. Most of us call to ask if they are okay, check on them, bring them groceries and shovel their snow. As caring children and family members, we worry about their safety and well-being. After all, they raised us and gave us a significant part of their lives. In the same way, we should make certain that our parents’ social and financial matters are in order. Sometimes we begin to notice that they may need more help. Seniors may often begin to neglect proper management of their finances or tend to ignore any warning signs regarding their health or well-being. This often becomes a good time to start a conversation with your parents to discuss how they might benefit from assistance from family members. This is also the situation where an effective elder law attorney can be a valuable partner.

Continue Reading Protecting Your Parents →