Many states have laws in place that make adult children responsible for paying for their parents’ medical care in certain circumstances. While these laws are not always (or even frequently) enforced, it is still worth understanding them to determine if you have any responsibility to pay nursing home bills on behalf of your elderly parents.Read more
As you may know, any gifts or assets you transfer within 60 months of applying for Medicaid benefits are subject to penalties. This 60-month or 5 year timeframe is what’s called the “look back” period. These penalties are not calculated in a dollar figure, but rather a set of additional months in which you willRead more
As the saying goes, the best time to start saving for your retirement is in your early 20s, but the second-best time is right now. If you’re looking to begin saving for your retirement, starting an IRA is a solid way to begin your planning. However, the prospect of opening up an IRA can seemRead more
Medicaid is a federal healthcare program that offers free or low-cost healthcare to qualifying adults and children with low incomes. The program is federally and state-funded, and each state has control over its own Medicaid program — for example MassHealth in Massachusetts. While the eligibility rules for Medicaid vary from state to state, there areRead more
Financial scams targeting senior citizens have become unfortunately common, because they target a vulnerable population that tends to have more money in their bank accounts. These scams often go unreported and can be very difficult to prosecute, which makes them especially devastating to their victims. Therefore, it is important that victims are aware of someRead more
Every year, Genworth conducts a Cost of Care survey that pinpoints the median cost of private nursing home rooms in the United States. This year’s survey results were released at the end of October, and indicated a three percent increase in the median cost of a private nursing home from 2017. Now, that figure isRead more
As part of your estate planning, you must consider how you will arrange for your medical care and other needs if you are no longer able to take care of yourself. Many elderly Americans will enter long-term care facilities at some point in their lives, but only about 13 percent of all Americans in theseRead more
Medicaid known as MassHealth in Massachusetts is made available to low-income families and seniors to provide them with healthcare coverage and coverage for long-term nursing home care. However, not everyone qualifies for Medicaid. If you are getting close to the point where living in a nursing home could be a legitimate possibility, you must startRead more
At some point, your elderly relatives might reach a point at which they are incapable of keeping up with their financial matters, including paying their bills, managing their retirement income and Social Security and budgeting their expenses. If you decide to take on the responsibility of assisting them in these matters, it’s important you approachRead more
It is with unfortunate frequency that we see stories in the news about seniors being abused or neglected in the nursing homes that are supposed to keep them safe and happy. This abuse can range from stealing money and emotional manipulation to actual physical abuse and neglect. If you have an elderly parent in aRead more
