Medicaid attorneys can help those who are getting older and who are concerned about their future. We can also provide assistance to caregivers who take care of family members or other loved ones. Being a caregiver can be hard, but there are resources and supports available to help make the process easier. At Frank & Kraft, we can help caregivers to explore their options for getting assistance and for making sure the loved one they are taking care of is as protected as possible. 
If you are a caregiver, you should give us a call to get help today. You can get personalized advice from our Medicaid attorneys that is specific to your situation. You can also read on to find out some tips for caregivers that could help you to better care for your loved one without putting yourself at risk.
Caregivers Need to Take Advantage of Benefits and Programs That Provide Support
As a caregiver, you need to take advantage of the help that is available to you and you need to make sure your loved one who you are caring for is also able to take advantage of benefits and support services that are available. The nature and type of benefits that you and the person you are caring for will be able to take advantage of depends upon the circumstances.
For example, you could potentially have long-term care aides come into the home to help you care for your loved one — but unless your loved one qualified for skilled nursing care, you’d need to pay for these services out of pocket. Alternatively, if the person you are caring for could qualify for Medicaid, the costs of long-term care at home could be covered. However, Medicaid is means-tested and the person you’re caring for might have to impoverish himself before getting Medicaid, unless you work with Medicaid attorneys to create a Medicaid plan.
The person you are caring for might also be eligible for benefits through the VA, such as adult daycare or an enhanced pension benefit, if he or she had a history of service in the military. Frank & Kraft can help you to ensure that the person you are caring for is taking full advantage of all available benefits, so you should get help as soon as possible.
Caregivers Need to Take Breaks and Have Time for Themselves
Providing care for someone else is emotionally difficult and physically tiring. As a caregiver, you need to make certain that you are taking time for yourself. You could potentially get a break if you or the person you care for is able to qualify for respite services. These might be available through the VA. The person you are caring for could also go to an adult day program, or you could even ask friends or family to help. The key is to make sure that you have some time to just take a break and enjoy yourself or you might get burned out and become unable to continue to provide care.
Caregivers Need to Have the Right Tools in Place
As a caregiver, you need to have the authority to make decisions on behalf of the person who you are caring for. You may also need to have legal authority to manage that person’s assets. For example, you might have to write checks out of the bank account of the person who you are caring for so that the mortgage can be paid on the home that the person you care for is living in.
Frank & Kraft can help you to use appropriate legal tools, such as a power of attorney and a healthcare proxy, to make sure you have the authority you need to provide proper care. If no advanced incapacity plan was made and the person who you are caring for is not able to delegate authority to you, we can also help you with guardianship or conservatorship proceedings in court so you can get the authority you need. .
Getting Help from Medicaid Attorneys
Medicaid attorneys at Frank & Kraft can provide invaluable assistance to caregivers who are taking care of loved ones. If you are helping a family member or friend who is getting older or who is sick and you want to make sure you and your loved one have access to all of the benefits and services available to you, you should join us for a free seminar today to find out how we can help. You can also give us a call at 317-684-1100 or contact us online to get personalized advice. Call now to talk with a compassionate and knowledgeable member of our legal team.
Paul A. Kraft, Estate Planning Attorney
Mr. Kraft assists clients primarily in the areas of estate planning and administration, Medicaid planning, federal and state taxation, real estate and corporate law, bringing the added perspective of an accounting background to his work.
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