Introduction
The decision to move a family member or loved one into a nursing home is one of the most difficult decisions you can make.
Perhaps the move is being made because the family member can no longer care for himself or herself, or has a progressive disease like Alzheimer’s, or has had a stroke or heart attack. No matter the reason, those involved are almost always under great stress.
At times like these, its important that you pause, take a deep breath and understand that there are things you can do. Good information is available and you can make the right choices for you and your loved one. This information on Medicaid Planning and Qualification is designed to help provide you with information concerning some of the issues you will encounter. These are issues which I, as an Elder Law attorney, deal with on a daily basis.
Americans are living longer than ever before. At the turn of the 20th century, the average life expectancy was about 47 years. Now we are in the first decade of the 21st century and life expectancies has almost doubled. As a result, we face more challenges and transitions in our lives than those who came before us.
One of the most difficult transitions people face is the change from independent living in their own home or apartment to living in a long term care facility or “nursing home.” There are many reasons why this transition is so difficult. One is the loss of home, a home where the person lived for many years with a lifetime of memories. Another is the loss of independence. Still another is the loss of the level of privacy we enjoy at home, since nursing home living is often shared with a roommate.
Most people who make the decision to move to a nursing home do so during a time of great stress. Some have been hospitalized after a stroke, some have fallen and broken a hip, still others have progressive dementia, like Alzheimer’s disease, and can no longer be cared for in their own homes.
Whatever the reason, the spouse or relative who helps a person transition into a nursing home during a time of stress faces the immediate dilemma of how to find the right nursing home. The task is no small one, and a huge sigh of relief can be heard when the right home is found and the loved one is moved into the nursing home. For many, the most difficult task is just beginning: How to cope with nursing home bills that may total $6,000.00 per month or more?
Continue to How to Pay for Nursing Home Care.