Long-Term Care
Long-Term Care Articles for Caregivers
Family Friendly Facilities: The Only Way to Go
In most cases, when we think of care facilities, we imagine the building and maybe the layout and people we might encounter there. But what will let you know if this is a caregiver and family friendly facility? Read more
Moving in With Family: Issues to Consider
Too often, the decision to move into a family member’s home is made when a crisis develops or as a last resort. Read more
Convincing a Loved One to Go to a Nursing Home
Most elderly people who have a clear and compelling need to be in a long-term care facility desperately want to remain in their own homes. They want to be in a familiar setting and be close to their family members. Read more
When is it Time for Assisted Living?
One of the hardest things a caregiver will ever have to do is to know when it’s time for your loved one to move to a long-term care facility. Often, caregivers will wait far too long before seeking appropriate options for their loved one. Read more
The Four Primary Kinds of Care Providers
When your loved one can no longer care for herself, it's time to find help. But what kind of care environment is best? Read more
“This Is My Life Now” An Interview with a Nursing Home Resident
I walked into the cheerful, rather narrow halls of the care center. It didn’t smell of feces and urine like many I had been in. Up the hall from where I walked in, was a small dining room. Some of the residents were sitting there. Read more
Of Promises and Pumpkins
It has been said that grief is like a wave that you don’t see coming; one that drenches you from behind and threatens to pull you under. I was nearly pulled under when I was riding up on the elevator for my weekly visit with Dad. Read more
Medicaid Long Term Care Programs
Medicaid Planning is the process of legally and ethically protecting my client’s income and assets so that they do not have to go broke before they naturally qualify for one of the Medicaid Long-Term Care Programs described below. Read more
How to Become a Paid Caregiver for a Family Member
Caring for the elderly or disabled person could be one of the most fulfilling and also one of the most demanding roles one can have. Caring for a family member means spending countless hours, efforts, and resources to make a life better for someone.. Read more
Six Questions You Should Ask Before Choosing a Nursing Home
“Use your nose." That used to be standard advice given to people searching for prospective nursing homes for themselves or their loved ones. Read more
Nursing Home Checklist
Use this checklist to assist you in assessing nursing home options for a loved one. If possible, both you and your loved one should be involved in the decision making process. Read more
Talking About Assisted Living
Suggesting assisted living to your loved ones can be a very difficult conversation. It may take time for older adults to come around to the idea of assisted living, so avoid pushing them too hard and make a strong effort to ensure they feel safe... Read more
Nursing Home Care
The term “nursing home” has become generic over the years, and it is used to define all facilities from a rest home to an acute care hospital. Read more
Making Sense of Long Term Care Insurance
Although your focus is probably on providing care for your loved one, it’s important to think about and prepare for your own future caregiving needs. Read more
What is Medicaid Planning?
Medicaid Planning is the process of legally and ethically protecting my client’s income and assets so that they do not have to go broke before they naturally qualify for one of the Medicaid Long-Term Care Programs described below. Read more
How to Evaluate a Skilled Nursing Facility
Absolutely no place is perfect, there are just levels of imperfection. We are all human and all make mistakes, after all. Read more
Separating Long-Term Care Insurance Myths From Realities
Parents and their adult children can never begin too early to think about their families’ potential needs for care in their “golden” years, and there’s no better time than November to begin that discussion. Read more
Top 9 Medicaid Application Mistakes
Giving away assets or income within five years of applying for long-term care Medicaid will cause the majority of state Medicaid programs to defer qualification of benefits for a period of time Read more
I Don’t Know Who I Am Anymore
Mom sat in her battered recliner. Her hands gripped the sides of her head, and tears flowed steadily downward as another TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) rocked her. Read more