Nursing Home Survival Guide

Book excerpt: As a result of the aging of our population and the fact that Americans are living longer than ever before, more Americans are developing chronic illnesses that require long-term care, and we all face increasingly difficult challenges and more transitions in our lives than ever before. One of the most difficult transitions that Americans must face for themselves and their loved ones is the "final move" - a transition that's made by over 40% of the American population - the move to a nursing home. Rich, poor, or somewhere in between, 99 percent of Americans can't afford to ignore the potentially catastrophic costs of nursing home care and other types of long-term care, such as assisted living and in-home care. In fact, long-term care costs are so high that 70 percent of Americans become impoverished within a year of entering a nursing home. Chances are that someone close to you has lost their dignity and their life savings by winding up broke in a nursing home. This Nursing Home Survival Guide is designed to provide much-needed information and answers to the important questions you will encounter as you go through this challenging transition. The Nursing Home Survival Guide is the definitive guide for helping you protect your loved ones who need nursing home care by preserving their dignity, quality of life, and financial security. This book provides invaluable information and guidance to families dealing with the possibility of nursing home care and struggling to make the best decisions for themselves or their loves ones. If you're a Baby Boomer or older, this book also helps you gain the peace of mind of knowing that there are ways to not outlive your money. Author Evan Farr is the creator of the Living Trust Plus Asset Protection System used by dozens of Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorneys around the country, and is widely recognized as one of the foremost experts in the nation in the field of Medicaid Asset Protection and related Trusts. A nationally-renowned Best-Selling author and frequent educator of attorneys across the U.S., Evan is known as the "expert to the experts," having educated tens of thousands of attorneys across the country, and now in this book is using his mastery of the subject to educate consumers about the ever-changing landscape of nursing home care in America and, most importantly, how to get the best care and how pay for that care without going broke. In 25 easily readable and understandable chapters, Mr. Farr covers diverse topics ranging from the basics -- what is a nursing home, what is long-term care, what is the caregiver's role, how do you select the best facility, what does Medicare cover, how to get the best long-term care insurance -- to the advanced, such as Veterans Aid & Attendance Planning, Medicaid Asset Protection, Pre-Need Medicaid Planning, and Medicaid Crisis Planning. Along the way he provides a valuable Nursing Home Evaluation Tool, answers many Frequently Asked Questions about Medicaid, covers the important topic of Why Medicaid Planning is Ethical, and provides valuable Medicaid Case Studies showing the application of some of the most common Medicaid Asset Protection strategies to real-life situations. This book also has chapters on Moving your Loved One, How to Get The Best Possible Care, The Rights of Nursing Home Residents, Recognizing Abuse & Neglect, What to do if You Suspect Abuse or Neglect, Estate and Incapacity Planning, and How to Find the Best Lawyer.