According to the Wall Street Journal, more than 70 percent of people who are 65 or older are going to need nursing home care at some time during their remaining years. Once you reach the age of 65, there is a 40 percent chance you will have to spend some time in skilled care. The chances that you are going to need nursing home care for five years or more are 20 percent, if you have reached aged 65.
Since the possibility you will require nursing home care is substantial, you need to be prepared and plan ahead for what happens if you do require care. A worst-case scenario could occur if you find yourself in need of nursing home care and you have not made plans to pay for it or done any research into care options in advance. Your family finances could be devastated and your loved ones could be forced to scramble for a facility with an open bed that can accommodate you in an emergency situation.
To make certain you have made advanced plans for nursing home care, you should talk with Eghrari Wealth Training Law Firm as soon as possible. Our Suffolk County nursing home planning attorneys have the knowledge and skill to guide you through the planning process and ensure that you can make solid plans for your future. We have also prepared some resources for you which will help you to find out about different nursing home facilities and make sure you have the right place to live if you need nursing home care.
Nursing Home Resources
These resources can help you to select a nursing home within Long Island and surrounding areas:
- The Nassau County Long Island guide to Skilled Nursing Facilities: This guide provides you with information on what a skilled nursing care facility is, how to select one, and how to determine medical eligibility under guidelines set forth by the Nw York State Department of Health.
- US News Health: This website provides nursing home rankings in New York, as well as other locations throughout the United States.. You can search by location, search the name of a specific nursing care facility, and limit your search for a nursing care facility only to locations which have received a certain star rating. With this website, you should be able to narrow down a list of acceptable nursing facilities in your area to only those facilities that have a strong reputation and that could potentially provide an acceptable living environment.
- Nursing Home Compare: This tool is prepared by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and it provides information on nursing homes which are licensed for Medicare and Medicaid patients. You can easily compare nursing home care facilities within given geographic regions, making sure that those facilities can be paid for by Medicaid and that they have a strong reputation for offering acceptable patient care.
- Nursing Home Rights: This website, which is a part of the New York State Department of Health, provides information on standards which nursing homes must fulfill and provides details on the rights of nursing home residents. Nursing homes have certain basic obligations they must fulfill to provide at least a minimum acceptable level of care and to ensure their patients have the highest possible quality of life while maintaining dignity and as much autonomy as possible.
These resources can help you to find out about getting nursing home care costs covered. Medicare typically pays for nursing home care only under very limited circumstances, so most patients who require care are going to need to pay privately or must try to qualify for Medicaid coverage. These resources can help you better understand nursing home coverage:
- Medicare Nursing Home Coverage in Part A: This website explains the limited circumstances under which Medicare Part A provides some coverage for nursing home care. The website also explains other long-term care options which are an alternative to nursing home care; provides info on the rights of nursing home residents; and explains care plans for nursing home patients.
- Medicaid Nursing Facility Website: Medicaid is a primary source of payments for nursing home care within the United States, because it is the only coverage for nursing home care that is available under most circumstances. This page explains options for skilled nursing, rehabilitation and long-term care and provides details on the different kinds of services that are available within different levels of care facilities.
- New York State Department of Health Medicaid website: Medicaid is administered through a federal/state partnership, with states setting many of the specific rules for Medicaid eligibility and for Medicaid coverage. The New York State Department of Health explains the rules for Medicaid eligibility, including details on how you can determine if you are able to qualify for coverage or not. You can also find out what your rights are, and when nursing home care is covered by Medicaid.
Because qualifying for Medicaid could be your only way to get nursing home care paid for, you should talk with a Medicaid planning lawyer to get help. You can make use of legal tools like an irrevocable trust that can keep your assets safe and allow you to qualify for Medicaid coverage to pay for your nursing home care. An experienced attorney can assist you in determining if Medicaid qualification could be an option when you need it and can help you make sure you can qualify if nursing home care becomes necessary due to age, illness, or injury.
Contact an Experienced Long Island Nursing Home Planning Lawyer for Help
Eghrari Wealth Training Law Firm can provide invaluable assistance with the nursing home planning process. Our legal team understands what is at stake when it comes to planning for the nursing home care you or your loved one may need to receive when living independently as a senior is no longer possible.
Give us a call at (631) 265-0599 or contact us online to speak with a member of our legal team and find out more about the ways in which a Long Island nursing home planning lawyer can help you.
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