When I visit with my clients they often express to me that the “golden years” are not so golden. Many seniors, and consequentially their families, are faced with the decision of locating the appropriate medical care when healthcare issues arise.

There are basically two options available when your loved one is unable to care for themselves – care inside the home or placement in an assisted living environment, which can include many different levels of care.

Since not all in-home care services are the same, it’s important to determine what level of care is required. For example, if medical care is needed, a licensed health professional will be required. On the other hand, if non-medical help is needed, an individual caregiver will not need a specific skill set.

The following are common types of in-home services:

• Companion services to help with supervision, recreational activities or visiting.
• Personal care services to help with bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, exercising or other personal care.
• Homemaker services to help with housekeeping, shopping or meal preparation.
• Skilled care to help with administering injections, wound care, physical therapy and other medical needs.

The cost of home healthcare varies, and depends upon the level of care required, the number of hours the patient requires and the location. For example, the cost of companion care would be less than that of a licensed nurse who administers injections. It’s wise to make a list of questions and inquire with family/friends in the community before selecting home healthcare for your loved one. And after appropriate placement has been determined, make periodic unannounced visits to monitor the caregiver to ensure your loved one is receiving the quality of care he/she deserves.

While home healthcare is allowing many seniors the opportunity to stay in their home longer before transitioning into a nursing facility; it is also allowing some seniors to never step foot into a nursing home facility. There are a lot of factors to consider when one is requiring additional care, whether it is in-home or in a skilled nursing facility. Please contact one of our experienced elder law attorneys to schedule a no cost consultation to review your circumstances.

Why Choose Morris Hall:
You have a number of options when it comes to estate planning, so why pick Morris Hall?  First off, estate planning and asset protection are a very complicated endeavor and you should only trust someone who focuses exclusively on those matters.  Also, MH is a proud member of The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (AAEPA) which provides us additional support, advanced training, tools and information that is not available to others – which means that we can better protect your assets and your loved ones.  We are one of only two firms in Arizona that belong to the AAEPA and are the only firm in New Mexico that has been granted membership.  If you have assets and loved ones that you want to protect, you are in good hands with MH.  Contact us today at 888.222.1328 to schedule an appointment!

This blog should be used for informational purposes only.  It does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader and should not be construed as legal advice.  If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney in your community who can assess the specifics of your situation.