What are Some Alternatives to Nursing Home Care?
By Barry Zimmer on August 24th, 2017 in Medicaid
A Montgomery Medicaid planning attorney can provide you with help making sure you are able to get care if you can no longer handle routine activities of daily living without help. Many people will end up needing some kind of assistance as they get older or if they get sick. If you find yourself in need of some extra help, you should be certain that you know exactly what all of your options are. It is also helpful if you have made advanced plans to ensure that you can pay for whatever kinds of care you need.
Zimmer Law Firm will help you to explore all of your different options for getting assistance as a senior. We can also provide you with help making a Medicaid plan so you can qualify to get Medicaid to cover your care if you end up needing costly assistance due to age, infirmity or disability. Give us a call to find out more.
Alternatives to Nursing Home Care
The available alternatives to nursing home care are going to vary depending upon the level of care that you actually require.
If you simply need some basic help because you cannot cook meals or get around in a car very well on your own any more, one option for you may be to move into an assisted living community. Assisted living communities provide connections, social opportunities, and – depending upon the facility that you select – can also provide things like meals and transportation assistance.
If you move into an assisted living community, you will typically get limited access to medical services but wont get help with things like showering or using the restroom. But, many assisted living facilities are associated with nursing homes so you can live in the assisted living community as long as you’re basically able to care for yourself and then easily transition into nursing home care when you need it.
If you require more intensive care than you would typically be able to receive in an assisted living facility, then there may be adult daycare options for you depending upon the kinds of help you need, and you may also opt for some type of home care services.
Home care services could be offered by skilled nurses, but this type of care tends to be more costly. You could also get help from home health aides who have less training but who can provide you with basic help like cooking, taking care of your hygiene needs and other activities of daily living. Medicaid can sometimes cover the costs of long term care that is provided at home, but only if you meet certain criteria including having limited assets. If you have too many financial resources, you will not be able to qualify for Medicaid until you have spent your wealth on paying for the costs of your care. However, this process can be avoided and your assets can be protected if you work with an experienced attorney at Zimmer Law Firm for help.
If you cannot live independently at all and you need more intensive medical help or have a need for more care, you will typically not have any options other than to move into a nursing home unless family members are able to care for you in their house with the help of home health aides. Nursing homes can vary substantially in the quality of care that you will receive, so you need to ensure that you have done your research very carefully in selecting a care facility.
You should research any complaints that have been made against the home and check the reputation and ratings of the care facility to find a home that will provide the best possible quality of life. Ideally, you will have researched nursing homes before you need care so a decision does not have to be made in an emergency situation. However, if you haven’t made advanced plans, Zimmer Law Firm can help you or your family to find the right care facility.
Getting Help from A Montgomery Medicaid Planning Attorney
A Montgomery Medicaid planning attorney at Zimmer Law Firm will help you to understand what kinds of care could be covered by Medicaid. We can also assist you in making sure that you’re able to get Medicaid to pay for your care when you need it without having to spend all of your wealth first before getting covered. To find out more about the ways in which our legal team can help you to get care as a senior, join us for a free seminar. You can also give us a call at 513.721.1513 today for personalized advice.