Emergency and Crisis Planning

It Is Never Too Late to Put a Plan In Place

Even if your loved one is already in a long-term health care facility you can still benefit from a care plan.  Having a plan in place in the event of a health emergency is critical.  This type of planning takes into consideration many variables, requiring input from Care Management, Asset Preservation*** and Legal Overview**.  Each family’s unique goals are carefully reviewed and a plan is designed based on the following factors:

Care Options Evaluation — To determine if an individual needs long-term nursing home care several factors are considered including:

• Competency/desire to remain in the home
• Skilled vs. custodial care needs
• Living environment/safety issues
• Family support/ability to participate in care

As SRCWC learns about a family’s care situation, needs and wishes we are able to guide the family to the optimum care plan for their situation.  This is all done with SRCWC’s goal of maximizing care dollars and placing the individual in the least restrictive setting possible.

Asset Preservation and Financial Guidance*** — We are often contacted by families for the following reasons:

• Individual is receiving short term rehabilitation covered by their Medicare and Supplemental Medicare benefits.
• Individual needs to plan for ongoing care, either in the home/community, or in a nursing home.

Once Medicare benefits have been exhausted and the individual still needs additional care, payment options will depend on whether any plan has been developed.

The following are potential sources of payment:

• available family assets
• long term care insurance benefits if applicable
• long term care Medicaid benefits

Estate Planning and Living Documents** — An Emergency Medicaid Plan will determine the order documents will be drafted and executed in.  It is frequently necessary to expedite certain items based on the situation.  Asset exemptions will be evaluated and implemented whenever possible to protect the estate and potentially qualify the individual for Medicaid Benefits (for a list of exempt assets, ask for our Getting Started Booklet). Also, refer to Estate Planning with Health Care Needs.

For specific information on SRCWC’s services visit Our Expertise.

*Senior Resource Center of Worcester County, LLC (SRCWC) is not an affiliate or subsidiary of Senior Resource Center, Inc. or any of its affiliates. SRCWC is an independently owned licensee in Worcester County, Massachusetts.

**Senior Resource Center of Worcester County, LLC (SRCWC) is not a law firm, but is affiliated with The Law Office of Christopher R. Sharry. SRCWC provides a legal overview of potential legal issues and may make a referral to The Law Office of Christopher R. Sharry or a law firm of the individual’s choice if legal work is necessary. Services provided by SRCWC are not legal services and the protections of the lawyer-client relationship do not exist with regards to these services.

***SRCWC and its employees are not registered investment advisors, nor do we sell securities.