The only module based, learning program that answers the question: “what happens if I outlive my assets?”–has just been released. This is a one-of-a-kind program that will help you face every long-term care decision and determine exactly how government benefits can help offset all or a portion of the extraordinary costs.

Every program is explained in great detail- step-by-step, how you qualify. Nothing has been left out. 

Visit: http://ultimatealzheimersrescue.com for details.

My Alzheimer’s long-term care program is almost done and I’m stunned at the number of people who have already signed up for my priority notification list. In fact, it’s almost full and I’ll have to shut it down this weekend.  

For a Video Sneak Preview of what this program will be about, go to: http://www.payingforalzheimerscare.com/Video_Preview.html

Just a quick note, that after a lot of struggling to find the time to work on something really big and a lot of prodding from my amazing subscribers.. (not to mention my Grandma) I’m just about done with a “big package” on how families facing Alzheimer’s can pay for the extraordinary costs of long-term care. My subscribers will be getting a preview in just a few short days.

To find out what this program will be all about, (and find out how you can get member’s only pricing and bonuses from some of the top Alzheimer’s experts) visit my site to get my free ebook and get on my list.  But you have to hurry. Announcement coming very soon.

http://www.PayingForAlzheimersCare.com

A Geriatric Care Manager can be a very useful professional that your family can hire to help with long-term care arrangements. So what is a Geriatric Care Manager (GCM)? 

These are licensed or certified professionals, often with a master’s degree in gerontology, nursing, counseling or social work. They can help your family develop a care plan for your loved one with Alzheimer’s and then monitor compliance with that plan.

In your journey through this disease, it will quickly become apparent to you that you will receive ALOT of conflicting advice: from nurses, doctors, social workers, hospital discharge planners etc.  So it’s often a good idea to hire a GCM to provide your family with an independent evaluation of your loved one. 

A good GCM is skilled at working with the family, who may have conflicting views of how their parent or other loved one with Alzheimer’s should be cared for. The GCM can provide you with a different viewpoint, explore alternatives, and even mediate among family members who disagree. 

For more information on Paying For Alzheimers Care and a FREE Ebook head on over to http://www.PayingForAlzheimersCare.com

I often tell my clients that at the first sign of any form of dementia (and hopefully much sooner), they must put in place a properly drafted power of attorney. It is critical that a trusted family member or friend is given the authority to help make decisions on behalf of the person with Alzheimer’s. As the disease develops, there will be good days and bad days where your loved one may or may not have the capacity to sign legal documents. Often an attorney will run through a series of questions with your loved one to determine capacity, or may rely on a doctor’s findings.

Power of attorney documents are important because they can help eliminate the need for a legal guardianship or conservatorship. I highly recommend avoiding guardianship/conservatorship proceedings at all costs and use them only as a last resort. They are time consuming, expensive and draining.

For more information and a FREE ebook on Paying for Alzheimer’s Care head on over to:
http://www.PayingForAlzheimersCare.com

We’ve talked before about countable vs. non-countable assets, but one thing that must be considered as well is that Medicaid also looks at transfers of property, money etc that have occurred. In general, if your loved one with Alzheimer’s needs to apply for Medicaid, they will look back at all transfers that took place over the last 5 years (depends on your state) to see if they were proper or improper.

If Medcaid believes an improper transfer took place, they can apply a penalty period for a transfer. So if for example your mom needs to go into a nursing home and apply for Medicaid, but 2 years ago she gave you $40,000, this may be viewed as an improper transfer subject to a penalty (it was within 5 years of the date she is in the nursing home and applied).

The penalty means that your mom would have to wait out a “penalty period” until she is eligible for Medicaid to help pay. It’s not just gifts of cash that can subject your family member with Alzheimer’s to a penalty, so it’s very important to at least have a good understanding of how the rules work, so that you can plan accordingly.

For more information and a FREE ebook on paying for Alzheimer’s Care-head on over to http://payingforalzheimerscare.com/

Watch for a new video of me discussing the three levels of benefits available to help pay for Alzheimer’s under the VA.

There are times when someone with Alzheimer’s must go into a nursing home and must apply for Medicaid to help pay for some or all of the costs.  But, what happens when the Medicaid agency tells you your loved one with Alzheimer’s has “too much income” to qualify? Depending on your state, certain states are known as “income cap” states. This means that if your family member has over a certain amount of income, they exceed that “cap” and may not qualify for Medicaid.  But wait a second–not so fast.

In many income cap states there is a way to allow the Medicaid agency to ingore the fact that your family member with Alzheimer’s Disease has too much income. These are known as Qualified Income Trusts or “Miller Trusts.”   This is a very specific type of trust set up where a family member (a trustee) can manage an account for income received on behalf of the Alzheimer’s patient so that he or she can qualify for Medicaid-at least from an income perspective.  You would still need to determine what level of assets your loved one has. We’ll talk more about that soon.

For a FREE Ebook on Paying for Alzheimer’s Care, head on over to http://www.PayingForAlzheimersCare.com today!

This is more of a warning than anything. For families facing Alzheimer’s-you must always be on the look out for unscrupulous financial planners and annuity sales people. Now don’t get me wrong, there are certainly reputable, good people out there who sell these products. The problem is, people with Alzheimer’s have a very high chance of needing skilled nursing care in the future.

This also means that they may very well need Medicaid to help pay for all or a portion of the nursing home costs. Medicaid has VERY strict rules (and becoming more strict everyday) about what type of annuities qualify. In general, the annuity must be actuarially sound, irrevocable, non-assignable and typically must name the state as a remainder beneficiary. Now rules vary from significantly from state to state so it’s best to do your homework. But one thing is for sure, you should be very wary about purchasing annuities without first seeking advice.

For great tips, tricks and techniques on helping to pay for Alzheimer’s care visit:http://www.PayingForAlzheimersCare.com and get my FREE Ebook today.

Did you know that Medicare does not cover most of what a person with Alzheimer’s needs? Many people confuse Medicare and Medicaid.  I like to look at it this way: Medicare only cares  if you are “lucky” enough to have the right disease! I know –it sounds absurd. But it’s true. If your family member had a stroke and needed rehabilitation in a skilled nursing facility following a hospital stay-Medicare  probably cares about her and will pay-at least for awhile. If on the other hand your loved one has Alzheimer’s and needs that same skilled nursing stay-Medicare no longer cares.  In that case other methods of paying must be explored.

For great tips, tricks and techniques on helping to pay for Alzheimer’s care visit: http://www.PayingForAlzheimersCare.com and get my FREE Ebook today.

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Posted in Alzheimer's and Medicare Tagged: alzheimers, elder law, medicaid, medicare, nursing home

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