Facing the need for a nursing home is something that may surface in your lifetime. Estate planning pertains to what happens to your assets when you pass away, but elder law attorneys like J. Kevin Tharpe guide and support people who have to balance the need for long-term care with a limited or fixed budget. One of the points that people need to pay attention to is that people rarely go straight into a nursing home. More often than that, they are in the hospital before entering one. That’s how suddenly this need can arise, and planning for the possibility of incapacitation is a fundamental responsibility that comes with aging.
Here’s another prime example of why you need to prepare before the need for a plan arises: When you transition into a long-term care facility from your home, there is no Medicare, no Medicaid (initially), and no prequalifying of benefits. Why? One of the requirements for getting these benefits is that you have to be in a nursing home for a period of time.
Have a Resource
Transitioning to a nursing home can be as emotional as it is stressful. One of the ways you can mitigate this is by having a relationship with an elder law attorney. For example, a parent may inform you and your siblings that they have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. After which, you begin contacting estate planning and elder law attorneys to help your parent. That is not a relationship. You want to have an attorney that knows your parent, and their legal needs, and has extensive experience in this arena.
Through personal and professional experience, attorney J. Kevin Tharpe will attest to what an intense whirlwind it is when a nursing home enters your life. Although this is not a slight on any nursing homes in our community or state, a significant portion of what they will tell you from the start will be wrong. When the social worker and director of the nursing home begin talking to you, they are advocating for someone else. They cannot advise and advocate for you, so having an experienced elder law attorney who understands your position and situation is paramount.
Sort Through the Confusion & Find Clarity
For over 34 years, we have advocated for our clients. One of the first things we explain is what your rights are. We tell the families they will not be personally responsible if they sign the paperwork to admit someone to a nursing home. Although that may seem obvious, someone at a nursing home may lead to believe otherwise. They may even send your parent’s bill to your house with your name on it.
You need and deserve an advocate to explain this to you, who will ensure that your loved one receives the maximum Medicare days. Commit to establishing a relationship with an elder law attorney today by contacting J. Kevin Tharpe, P.C., and scheduling a consultation.
Kevin Tharpe
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