Long-Term Care: Is Staying At Home Feasible?

When you know that you are going to have some financial responsibility in the future, such as financing the education of your children, you take action in the present to prepare for it. Unfortunately, far too many people fail to apply this logic when it comes to long-term care expenses.

One of the reasons why many people do not address the matter is because they feel as though they are healthy and they won’t need long-term-care. This may be the case, but if you never need any help with your day-to-day needs you would be defying the odds because most people will need living assistance.

Another one of the reasons why many people are unprepared is because they think that Medicare will pay for long-term care if they need it someday. The reality is that Medicare won’t pay for an extended stay in a nursing home or assisted living community.

These facilities are cost prohibitive to many Americans. Some people simply can’t pay at all, and others would lose everything that they have been able to save over their lifetimes paying for long-term care.

The best way to gain an understanding of your options would be to sit down and discuss everything in detail with a San Jose elder care attorney. Many people can qualify for Medi-Cal, which is a government program that does assist with long-term care expenses.

Another possibility would be to simply remain in your home even after you need living assistance.

An assisted-living community would provide you with a space that is specifically designed for people with physical limitations. If you have the financial resources, you could simply modify your home to accommodate your needs. This can include installation of things like motion sensor faucets, grab bars, handrails, walk-in bathing facilities, and even monitoring devices so that your family can look in on you.

When it comes to the human element, you may have family members and/or friends who are willing to provide you with the assistance that you need. In fact, most of the living assistance that is provided to senior citizens comes from family members, neighbors and friends.

Communication is key. If you have a frank discussion with your extended family members and others who may be willing to help, a schedule can be created that suits all parties concerned.

Paid in-home health aides are another option. If your family and friends simply don’t have the time to provide all the help that you need, you could bring in one of these professionals that can be hired through licensed agencies.

While this is certainly not going to come without any costs, it can be an economical alternative to full-time residence in an assisted-living community.

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Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at Law

Litherland, Kennedy & Associates have been providing quality estate planning services in the Greater Bay Area since 1975. They are committed to helping those concerned with protecting their families from the devastating legal effects of disability and death. With the aid of public seminars, educational presentations, articles, and radio/television interviews, the law office has championed the use of revocable living trusts as a proven way to protect families from probate, to minimize or eliminate federal estate taxes, and to prevent the Medi-Cal Recovery lien. Roy W. Litherland and Justin M. Kennedy are certified as Legal Specialists in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. They are members of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys and National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

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