Paying for Senior Care

Prescription assistance programs (also called patient assistance programs) are valuable resources for those who meet income requirements and who do not have prescription insurance.

Possibly, depending on your situation. It is perfectly legal for your mother to pay you for getting care she would otherwise have to pay someone else to provide if you didn’t.

A survey of family caregivers shows that the costs of caring for aging parents has a significant financial impact that could derail everyday budgeting and retirement planning for adult children.

Your primary responsibility is to make sure your relative’s needs are being met. This includes physical needs, health needs, safety and security, and emotional needs, any of which may involve spending money.

If the time, energy, and medical necessities of care make doing it yourself difficult or impossible, you will need to get help -- and help in this area can be expensive.

Private pay home care is nonmedical home care paid for out of pocket that may include services such as meal preparation, companionship, and personal care.

In most states, Medicaid covers home health care and home care services for seniors who meet functional and financial requirements.

Seniors may be able to transfer their home to their child through the Medicaid caregiver child exception without losing Medicaid eligibility.

The average cost of in-home care for a senior with dementia is about $27 per hour.

The VDC program gives veterans who wish to avoid nursing home placement a budget for long-term care and control over the home and community based services they use—including paying family members to be caregivers.

Eligibility for the PCAFC has been expanded to veterans of all eras, which means that more caregivers may be able to receive benefits like counseling, respite, and VA stipends for providing care.

Navigating Medicaid eligibility for married couples is tough. When only one spouse needs long-term care, be sure to familiarize yourself with spousal impoverishment provisions and your state’s rules for counting income.

Millions of Americans step into the role of family caregiver without really thinking about this label or fully understanding the responsibilities and sacrifices that come with it.

Podiatric issues like arthritis, structural foot deformities and complications from diabetes can make it hard for seniors to find shoes that fit properly. Family caregivers offer tips for finding and affording orthopedic shoes and custom orthotics.

Misinformation persists among patients and even doctors about the consequences of discharge against medical advice. Leaving the hospital AMA is a patient's right and does not affect insurance coverage, but it may come with health risks.

Medicare Advantage Plans and Part D plans can mitigate the growing costs of prescription drugs, but many seniors cannot afford this additional coverage. The Extra Help program assists low-income individuals in paying for their premiums and medications.

Many spouses incorrectly assume that there is no longer VA assistance available after their veteran spouse passes away. Fortunately, a benefit called the survivors pension provides additional income to surviving spouses and their children.

The rules that govern therapeutic leave for nursing home residents depend on how a how a senior’s care is being paid for. Avoid costly mistakes by learning about Medicare and Medicaid bed hold policies.

The emotions involved in relocating a senior often overshadow the medical, financial and legal implications. Make sure you and your loved one are fully prepared for everything that a move entails.

Longer lifespans and rising health issues may mean your savings will not last throughout the end of your lifetime. Many middle class American seniors are considering applying for Medicaid to help with these expenses.