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Deciding to start elder care for your loved one can be scary and nerve-wracking, particularly in a post-COVID-19 world. Senior care facilities in New York State were hit hard during the pandemic, and nursing homes received an unfavorable reputation for handling unprecedented events.
Thankfully, we’ve learned a lot over the last few years about COVID-19, and nursing homes have worked hard to reform their policies. Many nursing home facilities excel at providing quality care and implementing effective safety practices to keep residents safe at all costs. Still, we understand the idea of a nursing home can be stressful– it’s a life-changing event for you and your loved one.
While nursing homes serve a purpose and can be the right choice for individuals at certain stages of life, there are many options for senior care in New York that could also be a good fit. Elder care services have expanded considerably over the years, offering many ways to support individuals with various levels of care.
Understanding the different services and how to create a care plan when you choose one is the first step to considering the best care option for your loved one.
While it may have been true in the past, nursing homes are no longer the only option for long-
term senior care. Elder care services have expanded considerably over the years, and knowing your options is helpful before making crucial long-term care decisions.
When looking into elder care, leaving home behind is often the most significant stress factor for seniors. If this is a concern for your loved one, and they can still live safely and independently in many ways, a home care company may be a great first option. These services are designed to support individuals in their homes, helping them with activities of daily living (ADLs), staying safe and active in their neighborhood, and helping to provide or schedule as needed services.
Individuals who are entirely independent and need less space and more socialization may be perfect for independent living communities. These complexes or neighborhoods are generally made up of apartments, condos, or small free-standing homes with easy upkeep. Rent includes a variety of amenities– trash, emergency aid, meal programs, wellness centers, snow removal, etc.– and is the one step before assisted living.
Seniors who can no longer live independently safely and require a bit more care are great candidates for assisted living facilities. Your loved one may be ready for one of these communities if they don’t require a high level of care but need more assistance with cooking, driving, personal hygiene care practices, or going on social outings.
Residential Care Homes, or Board Homes, are structured along the lines of a group home for adults who require live-in assistance and the company of others. The services will vary depending on each resident’s needs. A weekly staff is available to help with everyday ADLs and transport residents to recreational activities. Depending on their medical, psychological, and emotional needs, each resident may also be assigned additional providers and support.
Individuals who suffer from dementia or memory loss need specialized care that is often different from others in the aging population. Dementia Care and Memory Services are typically provided in a protected community with private to semi-private apartments. The concern in these establishments is to protect residents from wandering into unsafe situations in the community and to provide 24-hour care from professionals well versed in the patterns of elders with these types of degenerative conditions.
Sometimes your loved one needs short-term care or day programs to keep them active and functioning. There are two types: Adult Day Programs and Short-Term Stay Programs. Day programs generally focus on socializing and keeping individuals active and healthy throughout the day. Short-Term Stay Programs are a little more involved, providing short-term assisted living until your loved one is ready to move into a new home or back to their original residence.
Nursing homes are long-term care facilities that provide the highest level of care. They offer all
levels of support, from scheduled activities to meals to personal hygiene to medical and all other care. Individuals who are disabled or require 24 hours assistance would benefit from a nursing home environment. There are 5-star nursing homes out there that want nothing more than to take care of your loved ones and provide them with the best quality of life. Research each facility, read reviews and talk to family members of current residents for insight into each facility near you.
Hospice is generally the most comfortable and supportive service available when your loved one has reached the moment of needing only end-of-life care. This care option may be at home or in a facility and focuses on helping your loved one find relief in their final days while also supporting the family emotionally. These services are typically utilized by individuals with fatal diseases and incurable illnesses, whose last steps are to seek comfort and peace.
Creating a care plan ensures your loved one's needs are met in whatever elder care setting you choose and that all concerns are addressed with timely and high-quality actions. Plans can cover daily tasks, services, social visits, medical treatments, and whatever else they need. A care plan not only keeps everyone in the family on the same track, but it provides peace of mind to your loved ones that their well-being is in mind, and they are being cared for. Here are the basics.
Our goal is to help our clients protect the most assets and get the best care possible.
Contact us today to start your Life Care Plan!
February’s Blog Recap:
There are several legal planning documents that are necessary as we age. A trust and a durable power of attorney are two of the most important ones.
There are multiple types of Trusts including revocable and irrevocable. A Trust creates a legal entity and it is important to determine your goals in selecting which trust is best to achieve your goals.
A well-drafted Trust by an experienced Elder Care Lawyer can ensure your loved ones and property will be protected.
Learn all about Trusts and how to securely fund them to accommodate your needs and achieve your goals.
Common Types of Trusts
A Trust is a document that creates a legal entity. There are several types of trusts to choose from. Yet, we’ve highlighted a few Trusts that can help you navigate your way through the planning process.
Revocable Trusts
A Revocable Trust is a Trust that can be changed or revoked by the creator for any reason, at any time, as long as the Grantor is still living and deemed mentally competent.
For example, The Revocable Living Trust is a planning document that has grown in importance over the last number of years. It is a private written agreement in an Estate Plan that allows a person, while keeping full control, to coordinate their assets and avoid the lengthy, costly, public Probate process. The Revocable Trust does not protect assets.
Learn more about Estate Planning and avoiding Probate.
Irrevocable Trusts
An Irrevocable Trust is a flexible tool that can shelter your assets from certain risks..
For example, an Irrevocable Asset Protection Trust protects assets such as the home and allows the family to prepare for future long term care. The purpose of this trust is to retain income for you or your family while protecting the assets for your spouse, children or other beneficiaries should Medicaid be required to pay for long-term health care in the future.
Funding a Trust
It is important to plan which assets you will be funding your trusts with. Moreover, remember that an asset not transferred to the trust is not owned by the trust and can be subject to Probate and your creditors..
Top Assets to Fund Your Trust
Questions about Trusts, Estate Planning, Probate and more? Visit Ask Brian to share your thoughts!
Learn which plan is best for you and your loved ones. Contact our legal and care team at Tully Law Group at 631-424-2800 to set up a free consultation.
Caring for an elderly parent or loved one can be extremely rewarding in many ways, but while those feelings of goodwill can be uplifting, the work can sometimes feel overwhelming and put you in a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion.
Estate Planning is an important step in securing your financial future for yourself and your loved ones. Your plan should be tailored to your specific needs, goals and family circumstances.
On Tuesday, October 19, Brian Andrew Tully, Esq. will give a webinar presentation on behalf of the Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation. In this webinar, "Elder Care Law 101" Brian will review the necessary planning documents, the need for asset protection, having the care paid for by Medicaid and finally how to help your loved one get the best care possible.
Melville, NY — Brian Andrew Tully, founder of Tully Law Group, PC, was selected to the 2021 New York Metro Super Lawyers list.
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September 29, 2021
Tully Law Group, PC is pleased to announce two new hires. (more…)
Did you know that falls are not a “normal” part of aging and that the majority of falls can be prevented if the necessary precautions are taken? One in every 4 seniors falls each year but you have the power to reduce the risk for yourself or your loved one.
Having a conversation about your parents' end-of-life choices can be intimidating, but there are steps you can take to ensure the dialogue about their future care and financial planning happens in an effective and collaborative way. In this blog post, we'll discuss our 4 tips for how to talk with your aging parents about their future.
