Understanding Special Needs Planning

Enabling the Disabled

We help families look at planning for their disabled loved ones to live their best lives. Family money can be carefully managed to fit the disability-benefit rules and still provide additional perks for the disabled person to enjoy. And, though the rules can be strict, disabled people are still permitted autonomy to own some money for their personal use and yet retain their valuable benefits.

For the disabled who have formerly worked

People in this category have contributed Social Security deductions while employed, but they can’t work now due to disability. These people can get benefits of around $1,000.00 monthly, and Medicare coverage, under the Social Security Disability Income program (SSDI). This program permits the disabled to receive income from any source and still get benefits, as long as that income is not earned from employment but, for example, from investments or inheritances.

If there is a family-member in this position, and if there are other elder family-members who are concerned about qualifying themselves for long-term care Medicaid benefits, the elders’ funds can be funneled into an irrevocable trust to benefit the SSDI recipient. There is no penalty against the elder for that kind of gift, even if the elder makes it during the five-year Medicaid look-back period. This strategy can preserve many thousands of family dollars.

For the disabled who are impoverished

The program for people in this category is called Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The purpose behind this program is to provide for people’s basic needs like food, shelter, and medical care. SSI pays an average of around $800.00 monthly plus Medicaid coverage and Section 8 housing assistance. These benefits are available for people who are disabled, who have not worked and have not contributed to the Social Security system, and who own no more than around $2,000.00.

Financial planning under SSI must be done carefully to preserve these benefits, but they are worth the trouble; the medical benefits are especially valuable. The SSI rules are fairly complicated. Gifts of the “wrong” kind – even simply stocking a disabled family-member’s freezer – could cause benefits to be reduced or lost.

Young people who became disabled before they turned 22 may be eligible for another  program, comparable to SSI, the Childhood Disability Benefits program. The rules under this program resemble SSI rules, but with additional wrinkles to do with the parents’ Social Security status.

What a difference one letter makes

It is essential to know which program the disabled person is under. SSDI recipients enjoy freedom to inherit or receive (but not to earn) money. SSI recipients do not enjoy that freedom. The addition of one letter in the acronym – a “D” – makes a big difference.

Trusts for the disabled

Trusts aren’t just for the rich. For disabled people, trusts are essential to shelter money for their benefit. Think of a trust like a treasure chest. The original owner stocks the chest with money and property. The assets are then managed according to trust instructions. For the disabled, those instructions detail how the money is to be spent, to ensure that the disabled person’s benefits aren’t jeopardized.

If money is left in a will, the will must also create a trust suited to retaining disability benefits. The days are long past when a two-page will would do the job.

Party of the first part, the third part, or everybody into the pool

You may remember that scene from the movie Night at the Opera, where Groucho and Chico tear out hunks of a contract identifying the parties. In the disability context, though, there’s an important difference between a first-party trust and a third-party trust.

Let’s say Sally became disabled before she was able to work. She sued an insurance company to compensate her for her injuries. She has been waiting years for the settlement to come in. In the meantime, she is disabled from working, she ran out of resources on which to live, and, thus, she qualified for SSI benefits. Now the settlement has finally arrived – but she still wants to protect her SSI benefits, especially for medical costs. Accepting the settlement money directly could put an end to those benefits.

Sally should put her settlement into a “first-party” trust. This kind of trust must provide that whatever money is left in the trust after Sally dies be paid back to the government for what it paid on Sally’s behalf. If Sally’s trust is set up like that, she will continue to receive SSI.

(There is a host of names for this kind of trust, including “self-settled” or “d4a or d4c” or “payback trust” or “special needs trust” or “supplemental needs trust” or “SNT.” All these monikers refer to the same “first-party” idea.)

Now let’s say that Sally didn’t sue, but her generous grandfather wants to give her money. Grandfather’s lawyer stops him from giving Sally money straightaway in a lump sum, because that would lose Sally her SSI benefits. Instead, the lawyer puts grandfather’s money into a “third-party” trust for Sally’s benefit. (Grandfather is a third party.) Third-party trusts contain highly specific conditions under which money can be paid to Sally, only for perks that are above and beyond Sally’s basic needs that SSI pays for.

If, on the other hand, the disabled beneficiary is over age 65, a “pooled” trust can also be created, with either “first-party” or “third-party” funds. The trust pays out, and is managed, by a nonprofit organization that is knowledgeable about the disability rules and that aggregates smaller trust assets into a larger fund. This kind of “pooled” trust – similar to the “first-party” trust described above – must also contain provisions to pay back the government and the nonprofit after the disabled beneficiary dies.

A bank account of one’s own

Disabled people are also permitted to keep their benefits plus their own bank account, known as an “ABLE” account (“Achieving a Better Life Experience”). In an account like this, the disabled can deposit and spend around $12,000.00 or more annually, depending on state law, up to around $100,000.00 total deposits. The general idea is that even SSI benefits can be retained and ABLE money can still be spent on anything that legitimately improves or maintains a disabled person’s health, independence, or quality of life.

The basic premise

So, while the rules hedging disability benefits can be complicated, the basic premise is this: that the disabled may stay well, enjoy themselves, and participate as integral members of community life.

Contact our Ruston, LA office by calling us at (318) 255-1760 or schedule an appointment to discuss how we can help you plan for your disabled loved one.

Medicaid Planning and the Dangers of Gift-Giving

If someone may need Medicaid assistance soon, giving gifts could have costly consequences. Medicaid is the government program that covers the huge expense of long-term care, for those who are not able to pay for it out of their own pocket. But to be eligible, Medicaid applicants must be pretty much broke. They are permitted to own no more than around $2,000.00. 

On the filing of a Medicaid application, caseworkers will meticulously investigate the applicant’s financial history. They are looking to see whether an applicant has given away money or assets over a period of years before the Medicaid application is filed. That period of years is known as the “look-back” period. In all states except California, that period for nursing-home care is five years under the current rules. In California the period is 2.5 years.

Depending on the size and number of gifts given away during the “look-back” period, the penalty imposed as a result could be substantial.

Many think that there would be no penalty for gifts of up to around $15,000 annually. That misunderstanding confuses tax law with Medicaid law (and it also is not quite accurate under tax law, but that’s another subject). In the Medicaid context, gifts of any amount that are given during the look-back period can be penalized.

There are a number of options to protect assets and still qualify for Medicaid. For instance, exceptions include gifts to spouses and siblings under certain circumstances, disabled children, and children who are caregivers and who live at home with the elder for a span of time. But overall, gifts and Medicaid do not go together. 

The Medicaid rules are complicated and the consequences for mistakes like gift-giving can be very costly. This is why it’s best to consult attorneys like us, who are especially qualified by our experience and expertise in Medicaid law. Please contact our Ruston, LA office by calling us at (318) 255-1760 or schedule an appointment to discuss how we can help with your Medicaid planning needs.

Don’t Wait to Start Medicaid Crisis Planning

A joint federal and state program, Medicaid is available to those who meet particular asset requirements that help them pay for long-term care (LTC) costs. Long-term care often creates devastating financial impacts on Americans, particularly the elderly, and for those family members who lose hours of income (and more) while providing care for their loved ones. The Medicaid system is still one of the best options to afford long-term care. Medicaid crisis planning is a strategy that can help you qualify for Medicaid without experiencing financial ruin.

As a joint federal and state social safety net Medicaid differs by eligibility rules and regulations in every state, and even by name. Unfortunately, people often wait until a catastrophic event brings about sudden illness, disability, or other medical crises before planning long-term care. Under duress, a family system will listen and take advice from misinformed individuals, such as non-attorneys or attorneys who do not practice elder law. Perhaps unwittingly, these people tend to give the worst advice: spend everything you have until you qualify under the Medicaid eligibility rules. Though this approach can work, there are far better strategies that can be employed. 

With the help of an elder law attorney, Medicaid crisis planning allows you to qualify for Medicaid nursing home/LTC without spending down all of your life’s assets. Working with an elder law attorney to devise a personal Medicaid crisis plan is a logical and financially prudent approach to long-term care and allows you or a loved one to use legally approved strategies to qualify for Medicaid before spending everything you own on the high cost of nursing home care.

If you have a loved one who is either in a nursing home or about to enter a nursing home, that is the time to speak to an elder law attorney. There are legal strategies that allow a person who needs long-term care to divest themselves of some of their assets, and use the rest to pay for their care until Medicaid eligibility is met.  The sooner an elder law attorney is employed, the quicker Medicaid eligibility can be met.  However, it’s never too late, even if you or a loved one are already in a nursing home.  

The level of complexity involved in Medicaid crisis planning deems it necessary to retain an elder law attorney, preferably one specializing in Medicaid planning. Eligibility requirements vary, calculations are complex, timing is crucial, forms are ever-changing, and laws are amended. An elder law attorney can tailor your financial situation to the best Medicaid crisis planning solution and protect your financial future.

Alzheimer’s Patients and the Risk Overmedication

While is is extremely common for elderly Americans to use a multitude of prescription medications at once, the more medications a person takes, the higher the risk of dangerous drug-drug interactions. There is also an increased possibility of inappropriate prescribing, adverse drug reactions, hospitalization, and even death. Patients who have Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or other forms of dementia often take dangerous combinations of doctor-prescribed medications, increasing their risk of further mental deterioration, dangerous drug interactions, unintentional falls, and overdoses.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s disease presents itself with neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaque in the brain. Thus far, the most successful treatment course is pharmacologically based. These medicines target the central nervous system (CNS) through the brain-blood barrier (BBB) in nearly every case. The medications affect the complex processes of continuous cross-talk between the cells that constitute the BBB and the CNS.

The Prevalence of Overmedication with Alzheimer’s Patients

There is a dangerous trend of overmedicating, particularly problematic for the one in seven people living with dementia taking three or more medications who live outside of a nursing home or other professionally monitored environments. Many of these prescription drugs include opioids which seem to present the most troubling combinations of drug therapies. The US Department of Health & Human Services, through the National Institute on Aging (NIA), outlines some basic information regarding managing medicines for a person with Alzheimer’s disease.

Health Day News reports lead study researcher Dr. Donovan Maust, associate professor of psychiatry at Michigan Medicine, says, “About half of the top 20 combinations included an opioid plus other CNS (central nervous system) depressant medications.” The University of Michigan’s study focus was analyzing 2018’s Medicare prescription data for more than 1.2 million people with dementia. At the University of Michigan’s Academic Medical Center, the report shows that individuals older than 65 should not take three or more prescribed CNS active medications simultaneously as drug interactions can be potentially dangerous, even fatal.

Despite these findings, nearly 14 percent of dementia patients took three or more CNS active drugs concurrently for at least one month. Of that same group, almost 58 percent of patients were on at least three overlapping medicines for more than half the year, while seven percent took three or more for the entire year. Study findings report that the most common drug combination included at least one antidepressant, one antipsychotic, and one anti-epileptic. More than nine of ten patients who took three or more medications took an antidepressant, and nearly two-thirds were taking an anti-seizure drug.

In the same Health Day News report, Maust says, “Obviously, it’s very concerning for patients with dementia that you’d be giving them medications that actually seem to cause further deterioration in their cognition.” This study’s findings were published on March 9, 2021, in the American Medical Association Journal (JAMA). While overmedication is troubling and potentially dangerous, there is also concern about pain being undertreated in older adults, particularly those with Alzheimer’s who may have difficulty articulating their pain.

How to Avoid Over Medication

An Alzheimer’s patient’s physician should routinely conduct a comprehensive medication review (CMR) to limit multiple prescriptions’ harmful effects. The purpose of the evaluation is to have one doctor evaluate all of the medications taken. A CMR appointment must be explicitly scheduled as most medical offices slot appointments in 15-minute increments, which is too short to review several medications. A complete list, including non-prescription drugs, is essential for a comprehensive medication review. A doctor treating older Alzheimer’s patients might change dosage amounts because of the potential for further mental confusion. Changes in dosage may also be prudent as more senior bodies process medications differently and often less efficiently in the digestive system, kidneys, and liver.

Dr. Maust believes that many of the drugs used to treat Alzheimer’s disease may pose more risk than benefit for a patient when taken in combination. Evidence points to instances when antidepressants and antipsychotics may contribute to reasoning and memory loss among dementia patients and other problems. Despite all the research, there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Meanwhile, it is unclear if the benefits of pharmacology treatments outweigh the risks posed by their prescription.

While we can’t help with prescriptions interfering with one another, we can help people with Alzheimer’s in a number of ways. We help people plan for the possibility of needing care in the future. We help them determine who will make decisions if they can’t. And we explore payment options like Medicaid or the Veterans’ Administration if paying privately for care will result in severe financial hardship. Please contact our Ruston, LA office by calling us at (318) 255-1760 or schedule an appointment to discuss how we can help with your specific situation and needs.

Similar, but Different – Elder Law & Estate Planning

Estate planning and elder law are both alike, but on the flip side, they are also quite distinct.

The Concerns are Similar

No matter what age we’re in, life can deliver some hard knocks. Hope for the best, but plan for the worst. We can get into accidents, especially when we’re young and under the impression that we’ll live forever. Who would we like to be there for us if we can’t speak for ourselves? If we can’t pay the bills? Decide about our health care?

Both estate planning and elder law attorneys help you choose people you trust to stand in your shoes when you can’t speak for yourself.

As adults, we start families and assemble worldly goods. If we’re thinking realistically, we want to make sure our families are taken care of and who gets our property if the worst happens to us.

Both estate planning and elder law attorneys help you with those questions. Both kinds of attorneys also know how to protect your estate from tax burdens and to avoid the expense and delay of court proceedings.

The Differences Make All the Difference

Elder law expertise becomes crucial when we get older. We’re living longer, healthier lives – but nobody knows when we, or those whom we love, will get too sick to make decisions or to live independently.

It’s understandable, but not wise, to postpone thinking about these things. Delay or denial can mean that entire savings get wiped out paying for nursing homes. Misconceptions about government benefits can forfeit eligibility for them. If you want to retire from your own business, do you have a plan for a smooth and profitable transition? What quality of life can you protect? What housing arrangements can be made? What is the wisest allocation of financial resources to protect against as many foreseeable contingencies as possible?

This is where we elder law attorneys come into our own. We can help you face these difficult questions with your and your family’s best interests at heart. What we know can go far to spare you the distress and anxiety if you were caught unprepared. We know how Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security work. We can help you manage retirement income benefits. We can steer you to the financial arrangements necessary if you or yours need long-term nursing care.

These are difficult, complicated questions that require particular knowledge to answer. We elder law attorneys have studied long and hard for that knowledge. We have learned how to help you plan to enjoy the life you have, plan for when life becomes harder with age, and have something left over for your legacy.

Estate planning is only the beginning. Please contact our Ruston, LA office by calling us at (318) 255-1760 or schedule an appointment to discuss how we can help with your long-term care needs.

The Mechanics of a Will

A complete estate plan should include a will, which is a legal document that disperses your property upon death. If you die without one (intestate), the state will distribute your assets and property via state law and quite possibly at odds with your wishes.  Having a will allows you to appoint a legal representative or executor to carry out your bequests and name a guardian for your children. There is no doubting the importance of having a will; however, there are some limitations you should be aware of.

Although a will can be the primary mechanism to transfer property on death, it does not cover all property situations. Some classes of property you are unable to distribute through a will are:

  • Property held in trust – A trust will have named beneficiaries who will receive the trust’s property according to the trust terms and not based on what is in your will (unless specifically stated in the trust).
  • Pay on death accounts – Informally known as PODs, the original account owner names a beneficiary(s) to whom the assets in the account pass automatically upon the owner’s death.
  • Life Insurance – Life insurance benefits pass to your named beneficiary(s) in the life insurance policy and are not affected by your will.
  • Retirement plans – In a similar manner to life insurance, money in an IRA or 401(k) passes to the named beneficiary(s). According to federal law, a surviving spouse is generally the automatic beneficiary of a 401(k); however, there are some exceptions. An IRA permits you to name a beneficiary(s).
  • Investments in transfer on death accounts – Some accounts holding stocks and bonds will transfer on death to the named beneficiary(s). Like POD accounts, transfer on death accounts bypass probate and go directly to the beneficiary(s).

A will does not allow you to avoid probate. Under most circumstances, a will must go through the probate process in order to allow beneficiaries to inherit property. It can take months to get through probate, and it involves expenses like an attorney, executor, and court fees. Also, under most circumstances, your will and everything associated with it (property you own, who your beneficiaries are, etc.) become part of the public record that anyone can access.

Keep funeral instructions outside of your will. The reality is your funeral may have already taken place before someone finds and reads your will, which can take days, even weeks. If your funeral or memorial service is important to you, the best way to help your family is to pre-plan, making arrangements with a funeral home. You can leave written instructions with the family as to your plans.

Your pets cannot inherit through your will. An animal is legally unable to inherit money or property from you. If you want your pets to be cared for after you die, leave money to a person willing to take care of your animals. The person you select can inherit your pets since a pet is considered property. You can also set up a pet trust or a pet protection agreement, either of which provides for your pet’s care.

Provisions for a child on government benefits are best in a trust. It is best to create a special needs trust to provide for a child with special needs or a child who is receiving government benefits. The trust can hold money for your child’s care without affecting those benefits.

There are ways to circumvent the limitations of a will by creating trusts, setting up pay-on-death accounts, and ensuring a beneficiary is named on all accounts that permit them. Your will is an important component of a comprehensive estate plan, but it can’t do everything.

We would be happy to discuss the pros and cons of having a will and other options available to you as part of your overall estate plan. Please contact our Ruston, LA office by calling us at (318) 255-1760 or schedule an appointment to discuss how we can help with your long-term care needs.

Factors to Consider When Deciding on a Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust

The federal estate tax exemption allowance seems to be at risk of being reduced, and so it may be a good idea to reevaluate your estate plan. Senate Democrats are proposing to lower the current estate tax exemption from $11.7 million to $3.5 million for individuals and $23.4 million to $7 million for couples. Whether this particular Congressional bill will pass into law is unknown; however, change is likely coming to estate tax exemptions. Even without action by Congress, in 2026, the current rate will sunset and essentially be cut in half to about $6 million per individual.

To address additional inheritance taxation, many look to an irrevocable life insurance trust as a mechanism to reduce estate tax and pay your heir’s part or all of the amount your estate will be taxed. The asset of the trust will be one or more life insurance policies. However, beware, as once an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) is created, it cannot be rescinded, modified, or amended. There are several important requirements to create and maintain an ILIT properly, and each requirement helps to explain the nature of such a trust.

  • If you are the trust grantor, you cannot also serve as a trustee because a trustee controls the trust, leading to the trust being considered a part of your estate. It is crucial to name a trusted person or financial institution to act as a responsible trustee.
  • The trust itself must be the owner of the life insurance policy. If you transfer an existing policy to the trust and die within three years of the transfer, the policy is part of your estate due to a look-back rule. The trust can directly purchase a policy to avoid this risk.
  • The trust must pay the policy premiums, and you must transfer funds to the trust for such a purpose. This situation can create an issue with gift taxes as a transfer to a trust is not usually afforded the yearly gift tax exclusion of $15,000. To qualify as a gift for a tax exclusion, the recipient must have a “present interest” in the money. To accommodate this requirement, you can use what is known as “Crummey” power, giving beneficiaries the ability to withdraw funds transferred to the trust for up to thirty days. Sending a Crummey letter to the beneficiaries of an ILIT informs that a gift has been made to the trust, and there is an immediate and unrestricted right to withdraw those assets for up to thirty days. After thirty days, the trustee can pay the annual insurance premium with the funds. Although you run the risk that the beneficiaries will withdraw these funds, if you make it clear the financial benefit is greater in the future, it should not present a problem.
  • Generally, the beneficiary of the life insurance policy is the trust. After the funds are deposited into the trust, the trustee can distribute the assets to the beneficiaries as specified in the trust. If your beneficiaries are still minors, you can instruct the trustee to wait until they reach a certain age. Leaving the assets in the trust can also protect them from beneficiaries’ creditors.

ILIT’s can own both individual and second to die life insurance policies. All premium payments should come from a bank account owned by the ILIT. The downside to an ILIT is that it is irrevocable. However, your ILIT is a powerful tool that can minimize your estate taxes, avoid gift taxes, protect assets and government benefits, select the timeline of distribution to beneficiaries, and more. If you would like to discuss whether an ILIT may be right for you, give us a call. We would be happy to schedule a confidential meeting to discuss your needs. Please contact our Ruston, LA office by calling us at (318) 255-1760 or schedule an appointment to discuss how we can help with your long-term care needs.

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A Major Problem: Age Discrimination

Since the 1960’s, lawmakers have continued to tackle age discrimination in the workplace. According to study.com, age discrimination is defined as “the practice of letting a person’s age unfairly become a factor when deciding who receives a new job, promotion, or other job benefits. Decisions about terminating employees also cannot be solely based on their age.” Age discrimination is illegal and there are laws to protect people from it.

The Law

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) is the federal law that protects job applicants and workers over the age of 40 from age discrimination. There are a few exceptions of groups that are not included in the ADEA. These include elected officials, military personnel, and independent contractors. The law applies to employers with at least 20 employees or labor organizations with at least 25 members. It also applies to employment agencies, the federal government, and state and local government. Along with the ADEA, all states have laws that protect workers against age discrimination and in most cases these laws are more stringent than the federal law.

ADEA Protection

Under the ADEA, employers are prohibited from using age considerations in hiring, firing, layoffs, demotions, or promotions. In addition, there are several things employers cannot do. Employers may not mention specific age requirements or preferences when placing ads for jobs or recruiting employees. Employees may not be forced to retire at a certain age except in certain limited cases. Age limits cannot be set or specified for training programs and employers may not retaliate against employees that file age discrimination charges.

In addition, employers who provide benefits must provide those opportunities for all employees, regardless of age. However, with benefits that increase in cost with age, employers may provide the same amount of cost assistance for all employees regardless of cost or age.

Identifying Age Discrimination

Age discrimination can take many forms. Age-related comments or speaking to older employees in a demeaning manner can become harassment due to age. Harassment based on age is a tactic employers may use in an effort to get older employees to quit rather than firing them when they are deemed too old. When a company has a track record of hiring only younger people, this may be a sign of age discrimination. Getting turned down for a promotion that is then given to a younger, less qualified person or being overlooked for challenging work assignments can be signs of age discrimination. If an employer encourages or forces an employee into retirement, this is age discrimination. Oftentimes age discrimination may come in the form of being left out or isolated. Unfair disciplinary action can also be a tactic used to discriminate against older employees. If an employee suspects that he or she is being discriminated against because of age, these indicators may help in deciding if a claim needs to be filed.

Filing a Claim

Any employee has the right to file a claim if they feel they are being discriminated against because of age. If an employee wishes to pursue a claim, they must first file an administrative claim with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC will then contact the employer and investigate the claim. If the EEOC deems the claim to have merit, they will issue a right-to-sue notice.  Then, the employee is allowed to file suit against the employer. Claims must be filed within 90 days of the EEOC’s notice.  With the various rules and requirements of this process, it is important to have competent and timely legal advice.

If you have any questions about something you have read or would like additional information, please feel free to contact us. Please contact our Ruston, LA office by calling us at (318) 255-1760 or schedule an appointment to discuss how we can help with your long-term care needs.

Geriatric Managers in High Demand

A professional geriatric care manager tends to a senior’s unique health care situation rather than being responsive to a particular age. The truth is aging is a complex, highly individualized process, and a geriatric care manager (GCM) may be appropriate at age 65 or 105 and any age in between. A geriatric care manager is a highly-skilled advocate for older adults and is specially trained to help identify resources to make managing your loved one’s daily life easier. A GCM is sometimes referred to as “aging life care professional” or “senior care manager,” as some find the term geriatric to be outdated. When is it appropriate to employ a care manager for your aging parent or loved one?

You live far away

Even if you leverage in-home technology and the internet of things to monitor and assess your loved ones well being, it isn’t easy to manage your older adult’s care if you do not live near to them. If you cannot frequently visit, a geriatric care manager can supervise care, alert you to potential or real problems, and work with you to arrive at the best decision for any issues that may prevent themselves.

Your loved one refuses to discuss their health with you

Many seniors, especially parents, do not want to burden their adult children with worries or problems. If you get the feeling your loved one is not telling you the full story about things affecting their health and well-being, hiring a geriatric care manager to check on them is a prudent strategy. Often, a senior is more willing to share their concerns with an expert outside of the family system.

There is a complex behavioral issue to address

Serious behavioral issues can manifest themselves in many ways, such as constant verbal abuse or being physically combative. These issues typically present themselves during the onset of dementia, and the root cause of the problem can be difficult to pinpoint. A geriatric care manager can connect you to an appropriate specialist to diagnose the problem.

You need to solve a problem in the senior living community

You might sense your parent needs more individualized care in their assisted living community, but the community’s administrator will not permit you to hire a private aide. A geriatric care manager understands how these communities work, the relevant state laws that may apply to the situation, and can negotiate on your behalf.  Because a GCM is an industry insider, they are more likely to find a solution in your loved ones’ best interest.

You do not know how best to help your loved one

There comes a time in your older family member’s care where you might feel utterly lost and unsure about what to do. A GCM can help you get unstuck by providing available options, tradeoffs, and costs. An initial assessment by a GCM can help navigate complex funding care options or uncover unknown resources for funding care.

Geriatric care managers can provide many services, including:

  • Evaluating, arranging for, and monitoring in-home care needs and the personnel that provide it
  • Coordinating medical appointments and arranging transportation to them
  • Identifying available programs and social services that can help your loved one
  • Making referrals to medical, legal, or financial professionals and suggesting ways to avert problems
  • Explaining difficult or complex topics to family members or care recipients
  • Creating short and long-term care plans that may include changes in living arrangements
  • Acting as a liaison to families who live far away from their loved one
  • Addressing and answering questions and emotional concerns of caregivers and their loved ones
  • Arranging for respite care providing relief to stressed-out caregivers

Medicare and Medicaid do not pay for a geriatric care manager’s services, so count on paying out of pocket. The initial assessment cost may range from 300 dollars in more rural settings to 800 dollars or more in larger urban areas based on a survey from 2017. After an initial assessment, a GCM bills by the hour and sometimes on a case-by-case basis. A reputable, certified GCM will have required degrees in one or more health care fields as well as several years of hands-on experience caring for the elderly. They will help assess, plan, coordinate and monitor your loved one’s insurance and entitlements, financial and legal matters, medical issues, involvement in activities, and family communication.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), through the US Department of Health & Human Services, provides links on its webpage to locate geriatric care managers, as do many other organizations specializing in senior care like AgingLifeCare, and caring.com. You can also learn what to ask a potential GCM at caregiversamerica.com and other websites that provide senior information.

There is much to consider about your aging family member’s health and welfare, whether aging in place or an assisted living community. An experienced geriatric care manager, along with trusted legal counsel, can provide the best overall planning for a loved one. If you have questions or would like to discuss further how a GCM may help you or a loved one, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Please contact our Ruston, LA office by calling us at (318) 255-1760 or schedule an appointment to discuss how we can help with your long-term care needs.

 

Prepare For the Care of Your Aging Parent

It is essential to prepare for providing care for an aging parent to be successful. Whether you need basic information about eldercare resources and services, are looking for a local agency to provide those services, or have worries about legal documents or how to finance your parents’ care needs now or in the future, the time to begin planning is today.

The American Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and television program distributor provides an online handbook, Caring for Your Parents, that offers good preparedness strategies. These planning strategies, links, and tools are also transferable for spousal care, other elderly relatives, or caring for a loved one who is chronically or critically ill with significant ongoing needs. The PBS handbook, designed by WGBH Educational Foundation and the MIT Workplace Center, addresses a wide variety of situations and is even appropriate when considering your own needs as you age.

In terms of an aging parent, it all begins with an open and honest conversation. You might be fortunate and know your parents are well prepared for their future, but most Americans will face situations where loved ones will require additional help and resources. If your parents have a solid aging plan with proper legal documents and financial backing, know that you can access that paperwork and account information.

If there is no plan in place, talk with your parents about future changes with appropriate family members. Take small steps to prevent overwhelming your parents, listen carefully, and be prepared for some denial. Discuss living at-home safety, bringing in outside services and caregivers into their home. Also, broach assisted living or nursing homes and if your parents’ have a valid will and health care proxy. Define their healthcare and living needs for the present and the future.

When locating services remember all eldercare is ultimately local, and services vary widely among states and regions. If you care for your elder parent but do not live nearby, look for resources in the state and neighborhood where your loved one lives. Be persistent; no one resource has all the answers. You may receive advice that something cannot happen when in fact, it can. Request an “Information and Referral” (I&R) specialist. These specialists have the proper training to answer a wide range of questions and connect you to services.

Much of your search will be on the internet. Your search can be overwhelming as there is so much information about eldercare, so be sure to use trustable sites for data. The PBS Caring for Your Parents Handbook’s links can specifically help navigate eldercare services and information complexities, whether the needs be moderate or significant.

Aside from identifying and using eldercare services, the Handbook contains information about finances, legal issues, insurance, home care, housing and transportation, health care, activities, and strategies for caregiver wellness. You can cross-reference data you uncover using the AARP online forums, where people share experiences, ask and answer questions, and learn from each other. Or use the AARP search tool entering phrases like “caring for your aging parent” for articles, books, and guides that you can compare with the PBS Handbook.

When establishing a care plan for your aging parents, realize that good intentions can quickly derail without legal documents in place permitting you to make decisions on their behalf. The quality of life and end-of-life care your parents receive is inextricably linked to proper legal documentation. When making plans and acquiring eldercare services, be certain to speak with an elder law attorney who can provide an overview of the aging process from a legal perspective and identify your parents’ specific needs. Health care proxies and living wills will enable you to make decisions based on your parents’ beliefs, values, and wishes when they are no longer able to decide for themselves.

As elder law attorneys, we consult with families on both care and legal needs of family members as the two are closely related and should be considered together. If you would like to discuss your particular needs, we would be honored to speak with you. Please contact our Ruston, LA office by calling us at (318) 255-1760 or schedule an appointment to discuss how we can help with your long-term care needs.