Long-term care planning
Three things the rules turn on
We are not selling a way around the rules. We explain them early enough that you have choices.
What counts
Income and most savings count. Some things, such as a home a spouse still lives in, may be set aside. Which ones depends on the program and on your facts.
The look-back
Gifts made in the years before an application can delay help with the bill. That is why timing matters more than any single form.
The spouse at home
There are rules meant to keep the spouse who is not in care from being left with too little. We map them for your household.
When to call
Call before a move into care if you can. Plans made with time give a family more options, and a plan made in a hospital hallway gives fewer.
If someone is already in care, call anyway. There is usually still something to arrange, and there is always something to understand.
What the first meeting covers
A list of what is owned and owed, what care costs now and in a year, who is at home and who would help. Merrill leads it, and you leave with a written outline and our fee for the next step.
Questions about paying for care
Do I have to give away everything?
No. Most families do not need to, and giving things away can cause problems of its own. We look at the other ways first.
Can we keep the house?
Sometimes. It depends on who lives there, its value and the program. We check before we suggest anything.
What if my parent can no longer sign?
Then we look at whether a power of attorney already covers it. If not, a guardianship petition may be the way forward, and Merrill handles those.
How is this priced?
The review and outline are a flat fee quoted after the first call. Any court or application work is quoted separately, in writing.
Thinking about memory care or a nursing home?
Start with a call. We will say what to gather and what to ask the facility.