We’ve been talking a lot recently about Medicaid-eligibility rules. They can be confusing, we know. One of the most critical pieces to understand, for anyone approaching Long-Term Care Medicaid, is its 5-year lookback period examining financial eligibility. They look at everything, and it certainly can seem overwhelming. But there are exceptions. Medicaid is a government […]
You can’t understand Medicaid eligibility in its entirety without knowing ALL of its moving parts. Oh, and there are more than a few variables — from financial calculations and tiers of eligibility to applicant categories and levels of coverage — which can greatly confuse the planning process. Knowing the Medicaid 5-year lookback period is key. […]
Step 1. Hire a professional. I can’t stress this enough. If you’re building an estate plan, life care plan or any other plan for yourself or a loved one, Medicaid planning and asset protection should always be an important part of the discussion. Sure, there are some who are ineligible due to Medicaid income and […]
It’s close to the end. You know it. Your family knows it. The doctor and medical staff know it. (“Close to the end” is a strange combination of perspective and reality. And “knowing it” is an exercise in faith and reality.) When is the time right for hospice care? Most hospice agencies say families and […]
We earlier discussed the astronomical costs of long-term health care and how Medicaid and VA planning can protect assets. For most individuals and families, it’s a vital part of the life-care planning process as we and/or our loved ones age. If you’re reading this, you, a partner/spouse or other household family member are likely among […]
You and/or your loved one wish to grow old without financial worry. OK, right off the bat, let’s rephrase that. You and/or your loved one wish to cover any necessary medical needs without surrendering your hard-earned money and assets for yourselves and future generations. This is where Medicaid and VA Planning must be an essential […]
You’re chatting with your husband and sister on the back patio on a beautiful summer evening. The wine tastes divine — even better with some stimulating conversation. Except, for some reason that escapes you right now, your husband is repeating himself and having difficulty finding the right words. That’s new, you think to yourself as […]
You’re trying so hard. We know. Being a great care partner for a loved one living with dementia is most certainly a labor of love. You may feel very alone. You likely feel as if you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, keeping up with the steady march of dementia and its […]
Studies have shown that art and music can lead to cognitive and behavioral improvements for persons living with dementia, even to those in the later stages. While the cure for Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia seems to remain perpetually out of reach, music and art can enrich dementia care with restorative sensory therapy. It […]
Hospice and palliative care deliver many of the same services. They both ease pain and suffering from serious conditions. But there’s a significant difference between hospice and palliative care: the expected outcome. Palliative care is delivered when a medical condition, no matter how serious, is not at the moment considered to be life threatening. For example, […]
