Coping with Crisis: Getting the Right Help for an Aging Parent

When an older friend, parent or loved one begins to show signs of needing assistance, how do you step in without overstepping?

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It is a call nobody wants to receive: an energetic, independent parent in a distant state is suddenly behaving differently. When Jane first came to Grimaldi & Yeung her mother, Margaret, was in her early 80s and starting to have some health problems. Worse, she was showing signs of confusion. What could Jane do to take care of Margaret without uprooting either of their lives? Grimaldi & Yeung’s attorneys and social workers:

  • Performed a home inspection to determine what supports Margaret would need to remain at home.
  • Created a financial plan — including a trust — to protect Margaret’s assets and establish her eligibility for Medicaid to provide home care services.
  • Put Margaret’s legal documents — including a Durable Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy and other Advanced Directives — in order so that Jane could direct her care and, if necessary, act as her agent.
  • Helped Jane identify and hire appropriate in-home health.
  • Consulted with Margaret’s physician to create a simplified routine that was easier for her to follow.
  • Held a “summit” with two care agencies to create a structure for Margaret and remove some of the uncertainty in her life.

Structure had become increasingly important for both Margaret and Jane. Additionally, Margaret’s assets needed to be consolidated and protected. Grimaldi & Yeung worked with the two women on a range of levels — legal, financial and human — to help take care of Margaret’s current and anticipated needs without disrupting either of their lives.

Medicare/Medicaid Planning: Choosing Nursing Home Care

Choosing nursing home care for a parent, friend or loved one is a difficult task. Caregivers struggle to know when is the right time. This is a two part decision; considering both the needs of the person to be placed and the caregiver’s ability to continue to provide assistance.

If the individual can no longer be safely cared for at home, or if their medical condition is too complex, a skilled nursing facility and residential setting is desired/preferrable.

When this need is coupled with an exhausted caregiver, placement outside the home becomes the best option. The admission to a necessary facility is a multi-step process involving:

  1. Researching a suitable facility.
  2. Securing medical history for admission.
  3. Completing the application for admission.
  4. Paying for the cost of care.

The firm of Grimaldi & Yeung can help you through these difficult steps. First, our staff can help you assess when admission to a facility is advisable. This can be done through an in-home assessment. We can also locate the correct placement for your family member. Once the site is selected, we can assist you with the admission process by securing the medical documentation required in New York State. After this step is complete, and the nursing home is deemed appropriate for the care needs, our staff can complete the admission forms, and provide required financial documents.