Colliton

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Maybe. Whether at-home care is more or less expensive than nursing care depends on how much care you need. 24/7 care at home will likely cost more than a nursing home. Make sure you deal with a reputable home health care agency.

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The idea that “I will only think about Medicaid if I am broke” is a mistake. When you are broke it often is too late to plan effectively. Planning needs to come in advance. This is even if you never expect to use any sophisticated techniques. If you gave money to your son or daughter during the past five years when they were out of work or needed help, you could be penalized later. If you do not plan for your burial expenses in advance with an irrevocable burial reserve, your family could be paying for a funeral with their own funds unnecessarily. There are special rules for spouses to protect them even during the five-year look-back period. You need to know what bills you should pay and when.

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Some of the best facilities in the area are Medicaid certified. Pocopson Home, the Chester County facility, has an excellent reputation. Each facility has to be considered on its own but there is nothing about a Medicaid certified facility that makes it less qualified to care for residents. Several retirement communities that require large up front payments are now also Medicaid certified. • Personal care facilities are limited by law. There are levels of care. •

Since the Deficit Reduction Act went into effect on February 8, 2006 establishing a five year “lookback,” there has been even more misunderstanding about gifting than there had been before. For the vast majority of potential patients, the “transfer everything to the children” idea is a terrible idea. Also planning can be done in some cases even during the lookback period. I ask clients do they really want to ask their children for money. Rules for spouses and disabled children can help. The rules are complicated and you should seek professional advice if needed. Janet Colliton, Esq. is a Certified Elder Law Attorney and limits her practice to elder law, retirement and estate planning, Medicaid, Medicare, life care and special needs at 790 East Market St., Suite 250, West Chester, Pa., 19382, 610-436-6674, colliton@ collitonlaw.com. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and, with Jeffrey Jones, CSA, cofounder of Life Transition Services LLC, a service for families with longterm care needs. Tune in on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. to radio WCHE 1520, “50+ Planning Ahead,” with Janet Colliton, Colliton Elder Law Associates, and Phil McFadden, Home Instead Senior Care.