The cost for a private room in an assisted living facility in Marco Island, Florida in 2018 is approximately $113,150.00 per year. If you have done no planning for those types of expenses up to this point, then that number can create quite a shock. But even if you have not done any planning for your long-term health care needs to this point, there are still ways you can prepare for the expenses you will incur as you get older.
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When parents get close to the time to transition to an assisted living situation, the family starts to worry about the status of the family home. Will Medicaid swoop in and sell the home to pay back whatever expenses it paid for the parents? Is there anything the kids can do to prevent the family home from being lost to Medicaid? These are good questions, but all too often the answers people come up with are wrong and dangerous.
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The people who live in North Fort Myers work hard and are constantly looking for ways to protect their futures. You are never too young to start talking to an elder law attorney, because an elder law attorney is there to make your golden years easier. When you talk to an elder law attorney, they will want to discuss the need for and benefits of a health care proxy. If you have never heard of a health care proxy before, then it is a good idea to use your elder law attorney as a resource to get the important information you need.
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When a resident enters a Sanibel assisted living facility for the first time, they are covered by an extensive list of rights. In 1987, the federal government passed the Nursing Home Reform Law that is used throughout Florida to make sure that residents are given the care and respect that they deserve. The law covers a lot of territory, but there are some main points it makes that every assisted living resident and their families should know.
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The laws associated with the Medicaid application process are both complex and, in some ways, intimidating. Medicaid bases many of its decisions on the relationships the applicant has with others and how those relationships affect the applicant’s finances. For example, the relationship between a husband and wife is looked at much differently than the relationship between a parent and a child. This is especially true when it comes to joint bank and investment accounts.
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If you are over the age of 55 and have been receiving long-term care benefits from Medicaid, then the chances are very good that Medicaid will try to recoup the money it has spent when you pass away. The Medicaid Estate Recovery Program (MERP) exists in most states and has come about to help keep down the costs of Medicaid to the taxpayers. Without the MERP program, Medicaid would be giving out money and never taking anything in. Over time, this sort of financial model is bound to collapse.
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The field of elder law can be confusing if you do not have any experience. Most people with a casual understanding of power of attorney, guardianship, and healthcare proxy often feel that the three are interchangeable. The truth is that each is a separate type of legal document that serves a very specific purpose. If you feel that your parent needs to be transferred to a new nursing facility, you might be surprised to find out that a power of attorney is not enough to get the job done.
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Sanibel is a beautiful place where people come to enjoy their retirement and benefit from their years of hard work. It is also the kind of a place where young people come to start and raise a family. The key to a long and happy life in Sanibel is planning ahead and being ready for whatever life tries to throw your way. There are many ways to make sure you are ready for life’s little surprises, and one of those methods is to make sure you get the right legal advice from a good elder law lawyer.
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When you start utilizing an estate planner, you will hear a lot about the probate court and what it will want to do with your estate. A large portion of estate planning deals with making sure that everything is in order so the estate is not slowed down during the probate process. There are even some trusts that can be put in place to avoid probate, which would allow a smooth transfer of your assets to your beneficiaries after you have passed away.
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Living in Port Charlotte means plenty of warm weather, fun activities, and the challenges that come with everyday life. Of course, those challenges are a lot easier to take while sitting in the warm weather or enjoying fun activities. It can be easy to let life pass you by in Port Charlotte, but you should take some time to stop and contract the services of a good elder law lawyer.
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