Long Term Care

Coronavirus is especially worrisome for those who are living with elderly loved ones. Family caregivers should take the following precautions to protect seniors from COVID-19.

On senior living tours, guides often direct your attention to the shiny features they’re proudest of. These amenities may be great, but this checklist of essentials can clue you in to the subtler indicators of a quality community.

As a couple, facing the financial and emotional requirements of long-term care is a challenge. Here are the four steps to successful long-term care planning with a spouse.

The high cost of a nursing home stay can overwhelm seniors and their family members very quickly. Depending on the circumstances, Medicare, Medicaid or both programs may be used to cover nursing home expenses.

Every long-term care facility should have a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan in place. Be sure to ask your loved one’s senior living community how they handle emergency situations like hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods and fires.

Deciding what type of long-term care an aging loved one needs is far more complex when dementia is a factor. Explore senior housing options and the limitations of each when considering the appropriate level of care for a senior with dementia.

A reverse mortgage loan is one option that may deserve consideration as retirement needs grow and savings and Social Security benefits may not be enough to retire on comfortably and with confidence.

Hospice, palliative care, home-based care, hospital-based care and long-term care facilities are all viable end of life care options. Compare end of life care types, where they are provided, the benefits offered and how these services are paid for.

Many seniors must apply for Medicaid to afford long-term care. Here are strategies families can use to protect some of their assets while still qualifying for financial assistance with nursing home costs.

Seniors with limited income and assets must often use a spend-down strategy to qualify for Medicaid, but gifting can trigger a penalty period of ineligibility. Learn about Medicaid asset transfer rules to avoid problems with paying for long-term care.

Unsure about how you will be able to cover long-term care costs? Learn how to convert life insurance to long-term care services without jeopardizing your Medicaid eligibility.

Whether a senior requires temporary help at home following discharge or requires permanent support to avoid placement in a long-term care facility, in-home care services can be customized to meet their unique needs.

It’s impossible to anticipate how a senior may interact with other residents and staff in settings like assisted living facilities and nursing homes, but staff should be prepared to handle difficult interpersonal issues and defuse tensions.

Medicare pays for senior rehabilitation in a skilled nursing facility, but only for a limited time and under certain circumstances. Be aware of Medicare’s rules for rehab coverage to avoid costly surprises.

Confusion often arises surrounding use of the term “skilled nursing.” Understanding the terminology used in the long-term care industry is an important first step in determining viable care options for an aging loved one.

When talking to aging parents about assisted living, acknowledge why they might want to remain at home and reassure them that the decision is theirs to make.

Often caregivers manage to convince their aging loved ones to tour a long-term care facility, only to find that upon arrival they won't budge from the car. Use these tips to empathize with your parent and encourage them to give senior housing a chance.

The goal of the Medicaid estate recovery program (MERP) is to recoup all the money that Medicaid spent on a senior’s care. Learn how MERP works and what families can do to minimize the impact of the recovery process.

Veterans with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia may be eligible for certain benefits and services from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Some current and surviving spouses of veterans may qualify for limited VA support as well.

A tax-free monetary benefit from the VA can help low-income veterans who require the aid and attendance of another person pay for care services in their own homes and in residential settings like assisted living facilities and nursing homes.