As the 78 million baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 in the United States enter their retirement years, planning ahead for long-term care has become a matter of urgency for an otherwise strong-willed and independent generation.
However, after bootstrapping their way to financial independence, the thought of losing their mental or physical abilities and having to rely on someone for help can be simply unimaginable. Unfortunately, failing to plan ahead can lead to even more unimaginable situations in the future.
Excessive Nursing Home Costs
Nursing home care in the Plano area can run in excess of $5,000 per month and is not covered by private insurance or Medicare in most cases. Many times, seniors can find themselves blowing through their entire life savings during the first year of care alone.
Unnecessary Loss of Assets
Most seniors are in the dark about how to properly protect their assets should they need nursing home care. Most worry about losing their homes or their inheritance for their families and therefore turn to DIY asset protection strategies like gifting money away or adding family members to titles to avoid seizures from nursing homes.
Many strategies that people use are risky, especially considering that there are look-back periods and penalties for “asset protection strategies” gone wrong. The job of an elder law attorney is to help seniors legally protect their assets should they require nursing home care in the future. With proper guidance and the use of tools like irrevocable trusts, seniors can keep what they’ve worked so hard for while still qualifying for public benefits to help pay for care.
Wait Lists for Care
Many facilities have wait lists that could limit a senior’s options if they wait until a medical crisis occurs to choose a desired nursing home. Don’t just assume that a nursing home with your desired amenities will be available if you have a health scare and can no longer live on your own.
Aging with Dignity Means Planning Ahead
Baby boomers can age with dignity, have a say in their care, and preserve their independence simply by planning ahead.
Through the use of legal tools such as Powers of Attorneys, Health Care Directives, and Trusts, boomers can make their wishes clearly known to family members, anticipate nursing home costs, protect their assets, and have a plan to go into the facility of their choice should a health care crisis occur.
No one likes to think about the prospect of ever going into a nursing home, but the time to plan for it is now. Doing so helps to ensure you get the care and treatment you actually want should something serious happen.
Call our office today at 214-292-4225 to start talking about how to pay for Nursing Home care.