As Kansas City elder law attorneys, we advise people about the eventualities of aging. The most important elder law issue at the present time is long-term care. Seven out of every 10 seniors will eventually need living assistance, and Medicare will not pay for it.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services maintains a website that provides a treasure trove of information about this important subject. If you visit LongTermCare.gov, you will see some eye-opening facts that will help you understand this pressing elder law matter.
The Medicaid Program
Medicaid is another government-run health insurance program, and it will pay for long-term care if you can gain eligibility. Since it is intended for people with modest financial resources, there is a low asset limit of just $2000. That’s the bad news, but the good news is that there are some things that you probably own that do not count for Medicaid eligibility purposes.
Your home, one motor vehicle, personal belongings, wedding rings, engagement rings, and heirloom jewelry are not countable assets. Plus, when a married person is applying for Medicaid, his or her spouse can keep half of the shared countable assets up to a limit.
This is a surface overview, but you can learn a great deal more if you visit the official Medicaid website.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Many people who ultimately reside in nursing homes require the care because they have Alzheimer’s disease. It strikes 10% of all senior citizens, and approximately 40% of elders who are 85 years of age and older are Alzheimer’s sufferers.
Most people are aware of the fact that Alzheimer’s causes dementia, but it is also the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Researchers estimate that by 2050, 14 million Americans will be living with Alzheimer’s disease.
The Alzheimer’s Association does a lot of great work in many different ways, and it is the ideal resource to connect with if your family has been touched by the disease. In fact, the Heart of America Chapter focuses on people in our area. If you need help, the phone number for the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24/7 help line is 800-272-3900.
Mid-American Regional Council on Aging
Another fantastic resource for senior citizens and their families is the Mid-American Regional Council on Aging. They serve people in Cass, Clay, Platte, Jackson, and Ray counties. You can visit their website to tap into a wealth of very useful information.
Elder Law Reports
Our firm has developed a number of special reports that dig deeply into multiple important elder law topics. Though the reports are comprehensive in nature, they are very easy to understand if you are a layperson. You can access any or all of the special reports right now if you visit the following page: Kansas City, Missouri Elder Law Reports.
Attend a Free Workshop
In addition to the written material that we have here on our website, we also make an effort to get out into the community to make direct connections with our neighbors. Our attorneys hold workshops on an ongoing basis, and you can walk away with a great deal of knowledge if you attend one of these sessions.
To see the schedule and obtain more detailed information, visit our elder law and estate planning workshop page.
Schedule a Consultation!
If you take the right steps at the right times, you can keep your assets in the family and qualify for Medicaid to pay for nursing home care toward the end of your life. We would be more than glad to help you put a sound nursing home asset protection plan in place.
You can schedule a consultation right now if you give us a call at 816-974-3030, and there is a contact form on this website that you can use to send us a message electronically.
