As a family member, one of the most difficult decisions you can ever make is when to place a loved one in a nursing home. This is because it’s very hard to remove someone’s independence from their life, and it’s especially challenging when you and this other person don’t agree that a nursing home is the next step.
Most people want to live as independently as possible for as long as they can. They don’t want to acknowledge a decline in their ability to live safely alone and they might also feel the pressure of the high cost of a nursing home. Without an active long term care policy, a semi-private room can cost thousands of dollars a month in Massachusetts. Someone with a spouse might be concerned about spending through the couple’s savings or the situation they’re putting their partner in by going to a nursing home.
So how do you know when it’s time? It’s possible that someone else like a doctor brought this up to your family because of safety concerns or deterioration in their cognitive ability or physical health.
Some signs that it might be time to investigate a nursing home include:
- When personal hygiene, feeding, toileting, or other daily issues are a challenge
- When family members are no longer able to provide the level of physical support and time required
- When the persons’ condition requires around the clock supervision or nursing care
- When they have specific needs, like dementia care
- When their personal safety is at risk or they are at risk of harming others
Paying for care is a big concern for many families; consider how advanced planning for Medicaid can help you protect your interests. Speak with an MA estate planning lawyer today for more information.
