How To Avoid Nursing Home Costs (and admissions)

I gave a talk recently to a group of older folks (the 70 year old told me he was the baby of the group) about Medicaid and MassHealth, which is pays for long term nursing home care for some people.  This was a wonderful group of people with lots of questions and stories and concerns, too.  As I often do, I explained that a legal and financial plan can only do so much to protect people. A lot of the things needed to protect ourselves as we age is in our hands.

Of my clients and other folks I’ve who have needed long term nursing home care, most of them have not ended up there as the result of one dramatic incident like a stroke, but rather as the result of a downward spiral which started with a little slip and fall, poor nutrition or dehydration after an illness.  Something that a younger or more healthy person might bounce back quickly from can have a lingering effect on older people.

Ways you can help keep yourself healthy no matter what your age include:

1. Get proper nutrition and hydration.

2. Exercise, especially something like yoga that helps with balance to prevent falls.  There is apparently a burgeoning industry of baby-boomer personal trainers.

3. Find social activities you enjoy and keeping up with friends.

4. Make sure your house doesn’t hold any hidden hazards like curled rug edges, stairs with no railings, bathrooms without grab bars or non-skid mats, and low lighting which could lead to falls.

5. Review your medication with your doctor to find out what the side effects are.

6. Limit alcohol use and do not drive after drinking.

7. Spend time doing things that make you happy – whether that is being with your family, in your garden, on your boat or just sitting and looking at the sky.

8. Adapt your activities as your abilities change. If you can’t read due to poor eyesight, check out some books on tape or CD from the library. If your hiking days seem numbered, find some more level woods to walk in. If you can’t run like you used to, ask your doctor about walking or using certain machines at the gym.

8. Practice forgiveness and gratitude.

One Response to How To Avoid Nursing Home Costs (and admissions)

  1. My first reaction is – that’s not law! Then I thought, yeah, but it is estate planning. The best way to protect your property from the cost of a nursing home is not to get in one. Stay connected, stay active. For those who don’t want to go the personal trainer route, there is Volkssport. http://www.ava.org/clubs/walknmass/. I recently went on a walk and met many active seniors.