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Medicaid for seniors does cover nursing home expenses; however, your parent will have to meet the program’s very low income and asset limits to qualify. The asset limit requirement can potentially put your parent’s assets at risk. Talk to an elder law attorney about your parent’s situation and find out if last-minute Medicaid planning strategies can help.
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As a senior, your parent may rely on Medicare to pay most healthcare expenses. Unfortunately, Medicare will not cover long-term care (LTC) expenses. Most private health insurance policies also exclude LTC costs. For many seniors in need of nursing home care, Medicaid is the only viable option for help in covering the high cost of that care.
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The average cost of nursing home care in Indiana runs parallel to the average national cost at just over $100,000 per year for 2022.
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Picking the right nursing home for your parent is a personal decision that only you can make; however, there are some common factors that most people feel are important when choosing a nursing home, including:
- History of violations or complaints
- Staff to resident ratio
- Qualifications of staff
- Availability of medical personnel (doctors)
- Resident activities
- Food services
- Complaint procedures
- Attitude of administration and staff
- Room and facility aesthetics
- Cost
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Complaints against nursing homes in Indiana are also filed with the Division of Long-Term Care. The Division of Long-Term Care is also responsible for investigating complaints. You can check for complaints on the ProPublica website and you can compare facilities on the Medicare Compare website, an official government website.
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In the State of Indiana, the Department of Health, Division of Long-Term Care is responsible for licensing and monitoring long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, in the state.
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Making the decision that nursing home care is necessary, or desirable, is a very difficult – and personal – decision. There isn’t a “test” that gives you an answer. Instead, you should consider your parent’s physical and mental health, consult with his/her physicians, and evaluate the ability of friends and family to continue providing the level of care needed.
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There are a variety of potential alternatives to nursing home care that may work for your parent in lieu of nursing home care. These alternatives may prevent, or delay, the need for nursing home care. Availability and eligibility will depend on where you live and your healthcare needs; however, some common alternatives to nursing home care include:
- Assisted living facilities.
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC).
- Community based services, such as adult day care.
- Home care/Home health aides.
- Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
- Hospice care.
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Nursing home facilities are a type of long-term care service that provide 24 hour a day nursing care, case management, health monitoring, personal care, nutritional meals and special diets, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, social activities and respite care for those who are ill or physically infirm.
Contact Us
If you have additional questions or concerns about business succession planning in the State of Indiana, contact an experienced Indianapolis, Indiana business succession planning attorney at Frank & Kraft. by calling (317) 684-1100 to schedule your appointment today.
