A stay at a long-term care facility is a common reality for many seniors, whether it’s a brief stay in a nursing home for recuperation and rehabilitation after a procedure or a more permanent stay in the case of a chronic disease such as dementia or Alzheimer’s. Choosing the right type of long-term care facility for a senior family member can be a daunting task, especially considering the cost involved with such facilities and the differing levels of care available. Below are some things you should take into consideration when choosing a long-term care facility for an older loved one.
Payment Options for Long-Term Care
Determining how to pay for your family member’s stay at a long-term care facility can be complicated. Depending on the level of care your loved one requires, a stay at a long-term care facility can cost between $5,000 to $10,000 per month. A common misconception held by many is that long-term care insurance policies can help bring down the cost of a nursing home stay, but these policies rarely cover a significant amount of the cost, much less the entire amount. However, your family member may be eligible to receive special benefits if they’re a veteran and can meet VA qualifications, and may also be able to receive aid from Medicare for a certain amount of time while in a nursing home. Medi-Cal may also be an option to help pay for long-term care, however, eligibility is enforced through stringent needs-based requirements. Without the proper help to qualify and maintain Medi-Cal eligibility, it is very easy for your loved one to become disqualified if they exceed the strict asset or income limits.
Available Levels of Care
You must also determine the level of care your senior family member requires from the long-term care facility. Since there are many different levels of long-term care available, it’s important to find a care center that can meet the individual needs of your loved one. There are also different types of care facilities, including skilled nursing facilities, custodial care facilities, and intermediate care facilities. When the time comes for your loved one to enter long-term care, you may want to contact an experienced Encino elder law attorney to help you review your options with a needs assessment process, then make recommendations or connections to the appropriate long-term care facility.
If you would like to get more information about long-term care, including the payment options and available levels of care, or if you’d like to review your loved one’s current situation in a long-term care facility, please set up an appointment at our Encino elder law office by calling (818) 905-6088.