by Bill Miller | Apr 7, 2018 | Caregivers
Leaving your loved one’s care in the hands of a stranger is frightening. Even if you do background checks, hire from reputable agencies, or find a nursing home with good reviews, you may still be concerned. When you are looking for a caregiver, or evaluating a current one, it’s helpful to know exactly what qualities to look for.
Qualities to Look for in a Caregiver Related to Temperament:
Some traits of a good caregiver relate to their disposition. Specifically:
- Empathy and Concern. Does your caregiver listen to what your loved one says? More importantly, do they care what their patient wants and needs? A good caregiver feels what the patient feels, but puts that aside to get the job done.
- Patience. Taking care of another person is hard. A good caregiver needs to have an abundance of patience.
- Trustworthy and Dependable. Your loved one needs someone who can be depended on to be there when needed. If you are hiring someone to care for your loved one at home, trustworthiness is important.
- Tough, Yet Flexible. Caregivers must be tough enough to get the job done, but flexible enough to roll with the inevitable changes. Medication and schedule changes should not derail your caregiver.
Qualities to Look for in a Caregiver Related to Behavior:
Some qualities are easier to determine than others:
- Communicates Well. When you interview a potential assistant, are they able to speak clearly and logically? A caregiver must be able to communicate freely and completely with medical care providers, patients, and family members.
- Attentive to Details. A nursing assistant needs to follow directions for care and especially for medications. Someone in a caregiver position who is unable to follow directions may need to be replaced in the best interests of your loved one’s safety.
- Strength. Patients often need help moving about and taking care of their daily activities. Caregivers must be physically strong enough to help the patients. Emotional strength is important when called upon to handle the stresses of caring for an elderly or seriously ill person.
Find an advocate for your loved one.
Finding the best care for your loved one may take time, but it’s certainly time well spent. Once you find a good caregiver, don’t forget to show appreciation.
Do you or a loved one need to speak with someone about planning for long-term care? Schedule an appointment with one of the qualified elder law attorneys at Miller Estate and Elder Law Our phone number 256-251-2137. Or you may choose to use our Contact Form to get started on your path to peace of mind.
by Bill Miller | Apr 7, 2018 | Medicaid Planning
Michael’s mother, Lucille, fell at home and wasn’t found for several days. He consulted with doctors about his mother’s care and was told she needed 24/7 nursing care. As he started researching nursing homes, Michael learned that the typical cost of a nursing home in Alabama is $6,000 or more per month. Worried that Lucille didn’t have the money to pay for a nursing home, and knowing that he didn’t have the means either, he started looking for other options to pay for her care. Michael decided it was time to start Medicaid planning immediately. What he learned puzzled and concerned him. Michael wished he had asked himself the question, “Should I wait until I need nursing care?” a lot sooner.
Medicaid Eligibility
Medicaid is a federally-funded program to help people with certain medical costs. The program is actually administered by state agencies like Alabama Medicaid.
But not just anyone can get Medicaid.
People have to apply and submit lots of supporting documentation. A caseworker reviews the application and documents, then determines whether the applicant is truly eligible for Medicaid benefits. Many people are not.
Medicaid looks at income and resources for more than a few months or even a year. In fact, Medicaid employs a long “look-back period.”
What is the “Look-Back Period.”
This is a five-year period prior to the application date. All financial transactions made during the look-back period are reviewed, no matter how big or small. Certain situations may cause problems for applicants, including:
- Asset transfers for less than fair market value. Example: Lucille transfers ownership of her house to Michael or sells it to him for less than it’s worth.
- Gifts, including charitable gifts. Example: Lucille suddenly gives her grandchildren up to $15,000 each. She also gives her church, the local SPCA, and the town historical society large donations.
- Random Payments to Caregivers. Example: Lucille paid someone to help her without having a written agreement about the services provided.
- Loans to Family Members. Example: Michael and Lucille decide to “lend” several family members large amounts of money without having formal loan agreements.
Some transfers typically will not cause any problems with a Medicaid application if made to:
- The applicant’s spouse. Example: Lucille is widowed. If she were married, however, she might be able to transfer some of her assets to her spouse or her spouse’s caregivers.
- A child with special needs. Example: Lucille’s daughter, Roberta, has cerebral palsy. Lucille may be able to transfer money to Roberta, her caregivers, an ABLE account, or a special needs trust set up for Robert’s care.
Transactions occurring during the look-back period may trigger a penalty period. The amount of the transactions may be deducted from Medicaid benefits.
Medicaid Eligibility is Complicated.
The first question of this blog was: “Should I Wait Until I Need Nursing Care?”
And the answer is, “No.” Whenever possible, Medicaid planning should begin well before you start the Medicaid application.
Does this mean your situation is hopeless if you waited too long? No, an experienced elder law attorney may be able to help you minimize the damage and become eligible as soon as possible.
We Can Help with Medicaid Eligibility Concerns.
The attorneys at Miller Estate and Elder Law know how to assist you with your Medicaid application and eligibility planning. We have helped many families just like yours save thousands of dollars and get qualified for Medicaid. For a free consultation, contact us at 256-251-2137 or use our convenient Contact Form. Although we’re located in Anniston, we also help clients in the Birmingham, Gadsden, Hoover, Talladega, Vestavia Hills, and surrounding areas.
by Bill Miller | Apr 7, 2018 | Special Needs
Parents of children with special needs have one big concern for the future: who will pay for their child’s expenses if they are no longer here. Special needs trusts have been available to help, but something more was needed. “Achieving a Better Life Experience” (ABLE) offers people a way to help their loved ones actually achieve a better life experience. What can an ABLE account do for you?
What Is an ABLE Account?
An ABLE Account is a tax-exempt savings account. People with special needs can save money to use for disability-related expenses without affecting their eligibility for public benefits like Medicaid.
Who Can Contribute to an ABLE Account?
Anyone.
ABLE accounts are not just for parent-child situations. If you know someone whose loved one has been diagnosed with a disability, you can help, too. In fact, any person or entity can contribute to the account.
Also, there are several ways to contribute:
- Payroll deductions,
- Through an Automated Investment Plan (“AIP”),
- Electronic transfer from a bank account,
- By check.
Gifting is another option. For example, you can use an ENABLE Gift Certificate to send a contribution and include a personal note to the account owner. And, finally, donors can use UGIFT, a free online gifting service.
What Can I Pay for Using an ABLE Account?
Withdrawals are easy, but must be used for qualified disability expenses, including:
- Education (including tuition for preschool through post-secondary schools);
- Housing;
- Transportation;
- Employment training and support;
- Assistive technology and related services;
- Personal support services;
- Health, prevention and wellness;
- Financial management and administrative services;
- Legal fees;
- Expenses for oversight and monitoring;
- Funeral and burial expenses, and
- Other expenses to enhance the account owner’s quality of life.
Funds in an ABLE account can be moved to another ABLE account if necessary. The money may be rolled over to another eligible family member.
You Can Help. So Can We.
In addition to helping someone with special needs, contributors to an ABLE account receive tax benefits. This seems almost secondary, though, compared to the good deed of helping someone in need.
If you have questions about an ABLE account or special needs trust, give us a call. We have the experience and training to handle your concerns. Contact Miller Estate and Elder Law at 256-251-2137 to schedule an appointment. We help clients in Anniston, Talladega, Birmingham, Gadsden and surrounding communities.
