No one wants to go to a nursing home. This is something that I have heard time and time again as an elder law attorney. But what happens if you or your loved one has no other choice?
The reality is that over 60% of all people in the United States will, at some point in their lives, be faced with the reality of long-term care. Such a term, in this context, is used to describe circumstances whereby a heightened level of medical care is necessary. That could mean the need for in-home care aids, an assisted living community, memory care, or nursing home level care.
Since long-term care is a likelihood for many, the predominant question for folks becomes “How will we pay for it?” This is the so-called elephant in the room. With the average cost of nursing home care ranging from $6,000 to $12,000 per month, many families panic when faced with how to budget around the need for care.
Some common questions in these scenarios include the following:
What is the best way forward?
Will we have to spend our retirement and everything that we have worked for all our lives to afford care?
What happens if one spouse in a marriage needs care and the other wants to stay in the home?
What options are available?
How can we protect assets?
What happens to our home?
Is it too late to protect assets if I need care right away?
Is Medicaid coverage for long-term care an option for me?
These are only a fraction of the relevant questions that present themselves during these types of discussions. With so many different factors and considerations, the biggest takeaway is clear: you don’t know what you don’t know.
Avoid the pitfalls of improper planning and the mixed messaging that comes with “research” on the internet. Reach out to our team at McIntyre Elder Law to schedule your free consultation with one of our estate planning and elder law attorneys. Call us at 704-749-9244 or visit our website at www.mcelderlaw.com
Therron CauseyAttorney at Law
