Life Becomes More Complicated, a column authored by Attorney Michael Hooker is a wealth of information. He covers everything from living wills to nursing home costs. We are happy to provide copies of his articles here.
If you’ve read my past columns, you know difficult it can be to get government funding to provide care in your home. Masshealth (also known as Medicaid) has a program called Personal Care Attendant (PCA). It can provide needed care into the home. But it is needs-based.
When the time comes, all of us would like to die peacefully in our sleep or perhaps lying next to the ocean shore on a warm summer day. It doesn't always happen that way. In fact, many elders live long past the point where they can lead meaningful, productive and quality lives. None of us wants to live to become so frail that we can no longer manage independently. As you know, however, the reality is that this often happens.
In 2006 Masshealth expanded the look back period on asset transfers from 3 years to five years. Might it increase in the future? My guess is yes, given the sad condition of federal and state health care finances.
If I had a dime for every client who wanted to protect their savings from "the nursing home" or "the state," I would be a wealthy man.
