Money & Law

Many families avoid discussing money. It’s not an easy topic to talk about. And I am certainly not a professional financial advisor, nor do...

As most of you know I cared for my mother for the last six years of her life.  Because of the many ups and...

Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements builds relationships to understand the heart of what's happening at your family. She also sees the emotional highs...

Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements talks about finances for senior care. Appropriate, quality, loving care can be found. The elephant in the room:...

Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements discusses the cost of elder care if family members stay home to care for a senior loved one.

Kelley Smith at CarePartners Living discusses Medicaid qualifications. Let's say that you have $100,000 in the bank. One qualification for Medicaid is having less than $2,000 in the bank, so you would need to spend the rest of that money in ways the state allows, with expenses analyzed for the most recent five years.

Kelley Smith at CarePartners Living discusses various Medicaid qualifications. CarePartners Living has the largest floating Medicaid license in Washington state. People are confused over how to qualify for Medicaid. Average costs of assisted living is $5,000 or $6,000 per month. Income and assets are limited, so perhaps one or two years can be paid for out of pocket. Don't wait till they've exhausted their funds before applying for Medicaid. Qualifications include having less than $2,000 in the bank, requiring assistance with at least three activities of daily living, and assets cannot be hidden.

Kelley Smith at CarePartners Living discusses costs of various senior living arrangements. An over-55 retirement community can cost $900 - $1500 per month. Independent assisted living with 24-hour caregivers, nurses, full-time activities, and meals can cost $3,000 to $6,000 per month. Memory care ranges from $4,500 to $7,500 per month.

Elder Law Attorney Jim Koewler talks about the dynamics of the legal side of elder care. Your elder care attorney can be your greatest asset. Jim talks about some of the changes that have happened during the pandemic. For instance, It's easier to stay on Medicaid and easier to get on Medicaid, but the general lack of ability to pay for long-term care hasn't changed.

Elder Law Attorney Jim Koewler talks about how to select a long-term care attorney.