The New York Times has been running an eye-opening series on the crisis in long-term care in this country. We covered the first article in the series, which explored the cost of long-term care, in an earlier blog. The most recent article – Desperate Families Search for Affordable Home Care – is an alarming look at the high costs and severe shortages of home health care aides in America.
The article points out that the vast majority of Americans want to remain in their homes and live independently as they age. Most would like to avoid nursing homes, which are viewed as providing poor care. But the growing number of aging Americans makes this challenging as costs for care increase, and the availability of help shrinks.
It often falls to family members to care for aging relatives. According to the article, spouse/partners and daughters provide the bulk of the care. Sons, grandchildren, in-laws and other relatives are also contributing to care. The article also discussed the difficulty in some parts of the country of finding home health care aides, and the costs of having such help. Medicare does not typically pay for home health care, and Medicaid, which does, is only available to people with limited assets in their name.
Sounds a bit grim, doesn’t it? There is some good news. In the New York metropolitan region, home health aides are readily accessible, unlike in other parts of the country. And, with careful planning, many who require home care services can access those services through Medicaid without spending down a lifetime of savings and losing the family home. We are experienced in asset preservation and long-term care planning, and we can help.
It’s important to come up with the best option for you, and your particular situation. Proper estate and disability planning can ensure that you live out your life in your home on your terms as much as possible. Estate and disability planning can save your family stress and anguish should you eventually need home care because you will have planned for it. At Makofsky Valente Law Group, P.C. we are here to help with all of your estate planning and future needs, so that you do not have to worry about them. We are only an email or phone call away!
The information provided herein does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available here are for general informational purposes only.
