• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Mendel Law Firm, L.P.

Attorneys & Counselors

Call Now: (281) 759-3213

  • FB
  • TW
  • IN
  • RSS
LP Payment button
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • About The American Academy
    • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
    • Mission Statement
    • Multimedia
    • Published Books
    • The Academy Fellow Designation
  • Services
    • Asset Protection & Business Planning
    • Elder Law & Medicaid Services
      • Are You A Caregiver
      • Coping With Alzheimer’s
      • Guardianship & Conservatorship
      • Hospice Care
      • Emergency Medicaid & Nursing Home Planning
      • Medicaid Planning
      • Veteran’s Benefits
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Financial Planning Assistance
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Pet Planning
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration & Probate
  • Seminars
  • Testimonials
    • Client Testimonials
    • Representative Clients
    • Review Us
  • Resources
    • Areas We Serve
      • Baytown
      • Conroe
      • Galveston
      • Houston
      • Pasadena
      • Woodlands
      • West University Place
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Elder Law Resources
      • Galveston Elder Law
      • Houston Elder Law
      • Sugar Land Elder Law
      • West University Place Elder Law
      • Woodlands Elder Law
    • Estate Planning Resources
      • Estate Planning Checkup
      • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
      • Estate Planning Definitions
      • Estate Planning Reports
      • Incapacity Planning Definitions
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Top Estate Planning Techniques
      • Top 10 Estate and Legacy Planning Techniques
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Asset Protection Planning
      • Avoidance Tax Planning
      • Avoiding Probate
      • Business Succession Planning
      • Charitable Gifting
      • Elder Law
      • Estate Planning
      • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
      • IRA and Retirement Planning
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • LGBTQ Estate Planning
      • Living Trusts
      • Medicaid
      • Medicaid Planning
      • Nursing Home Planning
      • Pet Planning
      • Power of Attorney
      • Probate
      • Trust Administration
      • Trust Administration & Probate
      • Trusts
      • Veterans Benefits
      • Wills
    • LGBTQ Resources
    • Probate Resources
      • Houston Probate
      • Sugarland Probate
      • Woodlands Probate
      • West University Place Probate
    • Probate & Trust Administration Resources
      • Bereavement Resources
      • How to Know if You Need Extra Help With Your Grieving
      • Loss of a Loved One
      • The Mourner’s Bill of Rights
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Trust
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Will
      • Trust Administration & Probate Definitions
    • Special Needs Resources
    • Newsletters
  • Contact Us
  • BLOG
Home » Resources » Frequently Asked Questions » Nursing Home Planning FAQs

Nursing Home Planning FAQs

Most of us hope to be able to live out the final years of our lives in our own homes. While the desire to remain in your home is certainly understandable, it is also important to plan for the very real possibility that you will one day need the type of care only available at a nursing home facility. If you do find yourself faced with the need for around the clock care, having a plan in place means you will be prepared for the high cost of that care.  and your loved ones will know which facilities you prefer. Researching facilities now also ensures that you receive the best care available if you ever do need the type of care offered at a nursing home.  To help get you started, the estate planning attorneys at The Mendel Law Firm, L.P answer some me frequently asked questions about nursing home planning. If you have additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our office to schedule a consultation.

    • Why is it so important to include nursing home planning in your estate plan?

    • In the United States, we are fortunate to benefit from advances in science, technology and medicine that have dramatically increased our average life expectancy over the last century.  Nevertheless, your odds of being disabled in at least two activities of daily living or of being cognitively impaired is 68 percent for people age 65 and older. Of those who do become disabled or cognitively impaired, about 40 percent will need nursing home care. By age 85, you will stand a 75 percent chance of needing some type of long-term care services before the end of your life. Nursing home planning ensures that your wishes will be honored if you need to be placed in a nursing home and that you can afford the cost of that care without putting your assets at risk.

    • How is nursing home care different from other types of care?

    • The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging explained the difference as follows: “It [long-term care] differs from other types of health care in that the goal of long-term care is not to cure an illness, but to allow an individual to attain and maintain an optimal level of functioning….Long-term care encompasses a wide array of medical, social, personal, and supportive and specialized housing services needed by individuals who have lost some capacity for self-care because of a chronic illness or disabling condition.”

    • Can you afford the cost of nursing home care?

    • As of 2018, the average nationwide cost of a year in LTC was $100,000. Texans are fortunate in that the average cost for that same year in Texas was about $80,000. While residents of Texas may pay less for nursing home care, with an average length of stay of three years, it is easy to see how the cost of nursing home care can deplete a retirement nest egg if you have to pay for them out of pocket.

    • Won’t Medicare cover my nursing home costs?

    • Although you may depend heavily on Medicare to cover health care expenses as a senior, Medicare only covers long-term care following a hospital admission, and even then only for a short period of time. Most private health insurance policies also exclude nursing home expenses, meaning you may very well be forced to pay out of pocket if you fail to plan ahead.

    • What are the alternatives to nursing home care?

    • For seniors who need assistance with the daily tasks of living or who require less extensive medical care, there are alternatives to nursing home care, including home health care, adult day health care, and assisted living facilities. In addition, Medicaid waiver programs in most states will pay for in-home and community care that is aimed at keeping seniors in their own homes.

    • Where can I find information on nursing homes in my area?

    • Doing your homework when searching for a nursing home is crucial to ensuring that the care you, or a loved one, receive is the best possible care. There are a number of websites that can be used to help you find nursing home care in your area and even compare the quality of care offered at the facilities. Two excellent federal resources are Medicare.gov (the federal government’s official site for Medicare) and Eldercare Locator which is a public service of the U.S. Administration on aging. The Texas Health and Human Services also publishes a list of licensed nursing home facilities.

    • What is Medicaid?

    • Medicaid is a healthcare program that is primarily funded by the U.S. federal government; however, it is administered by the individual states. Consequently, the eligibility guidelines and benefits offered can vary somewhat from one state to the next. There are different eligibility categories within Medicaid, however, every state has at least one category under which seniors can potentially qualify for benefits.

    • Why should I include Medicaid planning in my estate plan?

    • Unless you have the resources to cover the cost of nursing home care out of pocket for an indefinite period of time, you will likely find yourself turning to Medicaid for help. Currently, over half of all seniors in nursing home facilities rely on Medicaid to help cover the high cost of care. Medicaid will help with your nursing home expenses if you are eligible for benefits. To be eligible, you must meet the very low “countable resources” limits that can put your retirement nest egg at risk if you failed to plan ahead.  Medicaid planning ensures that your assets are protected and that you do qualify for benefits if you need them down the road.

    • Should I be worried about nursing home abuse?

    • The reality is that nursing home abuse is a very real problem in the United States. One study found that more than 40 percent of nursing home residents have reported abuse, and more than 90 percent report that they or another resident of the facility have been neglected. Research from 2010 indicates that up to half of all nursing home attendants have admitted abusing or neglecting elderly patients.

    • What can I do to prevent becoming the victim of nursing home abuse?

    • The most important thing you can do to prevent becoming a victim of abuse is to plan ahead. Do your “homework” now so you  know which facility has the best reputation and which facilities have been repeatedly fined for violations or even accused of abusing a resident. Visit facilities in your area now, while you have the opportunity. Reduce your wishes and references to writing within the nursing home planning component of your estate plan. Although it may be a difficult conversation to have, sit down with an adult child and have an open discussion about elder abuse. In the event that you develop dementia or are otherwise unable to express yourself, in the future it is imperative that someone you trust knows what to look for and how to respond if abuse is suspected.

Primary Sidebar

The Mendel Law Firm

Follow Us

  • FB
  • TW
  • IN
  • RSS

Plan For Your Future and Protect Your Legacy

There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

HOUSTON

The Mendel Law Firm, L.P.
1155 Dairy Ashford, Suite 104
Houston 77079
United States (US)
Phone: (281) 759-3213
Fax: 281-759-3214

Map

map

Office Hours

Monday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Footer

The Mendel Law Firm

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this or associated pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute, an
attorney-client relationship.

© 2023 Mendel Law Firm, All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Disclaimer | Site Map | Powered by American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys