Tag Archives: nursing home

During your stay in a hospital, your doctor and the staff must work with you to help pave the way to a smooth transition to the next level of care. Your input is an important part of creating a comprehensive plan for what happens to you after you leave the hospital setting and enter rehab or long-term care. The following questions come from a document called “Your Discharge Planning Checklist” from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. We recommend using this and other checklists in working with the hospital’s staff before discharge. 1) Where will you receive care after …

  It is a great relief when you can find a person you trust to take care of your parents or loved one as they age. Caregivers can be a great help for those who may not be totally self-sufficient. But there may come a time when your parents’ needs exceed the scope of an in-home caregiver. At this point, you may look nursing home care for your loved ones, especially if medical professionals feel that that is necessary. Once in a nursing home, most people will try to qualify for Medicaid, which is the only governmental program that will …

Aside from the emotional difficulties that arise when a loved one goes into some sort of care arrangement, there are often legal and financial ramifications. Remember, however, that any care arrangement is a contract and all contracts are negotiable. Every good negotiation starts with good questions. Here’s a starter list: Have you toured the facility during off hours? Has legal counsel reviewed the contract before you signed it? What services are being excluded in the contract? What provisions in the contract deal with behavior altering medications? Does the contract limit your civil right to engage in Medicaid asset protection planning …