Most senior couples have lived in their home or on their farm for years and have completely paid for this property. Their goal is to pass the home down to the next generation – their children. In addition, the home is usually the couple’s most valuable asset. Consider this all too common situation: Husband suffers a stroke and his doctor says he needs nursing home care. Wife's concern is finding the money to pay for that care. She fears losing the family home/farm that has been in the family for years. The couple does not have enough savings to pay for the nursing home for very long, and they worry that if husband applies for Medicaid benefits the state will take the home place.

Do I have to be already living in an assisted living community before I apply?
 No, it is not necessary to be living in assisted living in order to apply for VA benefits; however, if you are in need of personal assistance, the entire cost of assisted living helps to qualify you for benefits, but you must be a current resident to submit these expenses as a deduction off income.

Medicaid is an incredibly valuable benefits program that helps pay for care seniors needs when they live in a nursing home and assisted living facility. Medicaid can also pay for some in-home care services. However, the financial criteria for qualifying for these benefits is very complicated and there is a great deal of misinformation about the program and many misconceptions about Medicaid benefits. This article will attempt, briefly, to address some common myths about this misunderstood benefit. Do not consider this article a substitute for legal advice -- always consult a qualified board certified elder law attorney regarding your own situation before taking action so you can be sure you are making good decisions with regard to how to plan for long-term care costs.

Senior Newsbits features events and activities for and about Seniors in southwest Idaho. Click here to view upcoming events!

Over the past 3-4 years, the team at Sisson & Sisson has been providing Life Care Planning services to seniors and their families who are coping with chronic care issues.

Siblings do not always receive equal shares of a parent's estate. Sometimes the inequality is intentional and sometimes it is accidental. Regardless of how it happens, it can cause arguments among the children. However, there are some steps parents can take to promote family harmony.

Although you can begin receiving Social Security benefits anytime after age 62, the longer you wait, the higher the benefit you will receive. But many people need money right away and cannot afford to delay. If you are married, there is a strategy that may allow you to claim some benefits immediately and then claim more benefits later.

Many people believe that joint accounts are a good way to avoid probate and transfer money to loved ones, and such accounts are sometimes referred to as "the common person's estate plan." But while joint accounts can be useful in certain circumstances, they can have dire consequences if not used properly. Adding a loved one to a bank account can affect Medicaid planning as well as expose your account to the loved one's creditors.

“May you live in interesting times,” was an old curse veiled as a compliment. Well, we are certainly all living in interesting times right now! Markets and home values are crashing, economic uncertainty abounds, and government spending is unchecked. All about us, businesses are failing. Many seniors are very concerned right now about their futures, with good reason.

Are you receiving duplicate copies of our newsletter? If so, please contact our office at 387-0729 or via email at SebrinaC@idahoelderlaw.com and provide us the following information 1) how many additional copies you are receiving; and 2) the name(s) and email addresses on each additional copy.

Thank you for your interest in Elder Law Today and for helping keep our information up to date.