What is Home Care?

Seven out of 10 Americans who make it past the age of 65 will develop conditions that require long term care services, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. However, just 48 percent of older Americans end up getting the long term care they need. Often, even those who do receive long term care do not receive enough. Just 24 percent of elderly patients who require long term care receive up to two years. The lack of paid long term care is usually due to the high cost of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other long term care treatment, including in-home care. While Medicare can be used for short periods of elderly care services, it is often not enough. Long term care insurance is incredibly expensive, and those who do have long term health care insurance are disqualified for using Medicaid. As you age, this can become a daunting problem. However, there is a solution: Medicaid planning.

Medicaid Planning

By creating a long term care trust, you can afford the long term care you will likely require at some point in the future, while holding onto many of your assets. This type of long term care trust allows you to qualify for Medicaid, without having to spend down your wealth in order to qualify. As such, you can retain many of your assets, including your home if it is valued less than $572,000. If you or your spouse suffers a medical emergency that requires time in a nursing home or assisted living facility, and you are able to return to your home afterwards, or if you simply need a level of assistance that is less than a skilled nursing home, keeping your own home is an important part of home care, which Medicaid can pay for, according to AARP.

Home Health Care

There are many forms of home care that Medicaid pays for. Home health care includes, but is not limited to, the various services outlined below:

• Home Health Care—Medical workers, including nurses and doctors, attend to you at your home.
• Home Care or Personal Care—Bathing, feeding, help with dressing and bathing, and other personal care duties. These services are not provided by a medical professional
• Homemaker Services—House cleaning, groceries, meal preparation, laundry, and other household duties.
• Caregiver Support—A family member can receive compensation for the time and effort they put into providing support, including cleaning, clothing, transportation, and other duties.
• Nutrition Services—Nutritional supplements, nutritional planning, delivered prepared meals, and more.

An Orlando Long Term Care Planning Attorney Can Help

If you wish to stay in your own home, but are worried that you will not be able to fully care for yourself, or be able to pay for expensive home care services, it is best to speak with a long term care planning attorney sooner rather than later. Our Orlando Medicaid planning lawyers at the Law Offices of Shea A. Fugate, P.A. can help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

Resource:

aarp.org/caregiving/financial-legal/info-2017/afford-a-homecare-worker.html

https://sheafugate.com/questions-to-ask-orlando-home-health-care-agencies/