Baton Rouge Long-Term Care Planning Lawyer

Baton Rouge Long-Term Care Planning Attorney

Long-term care planning is extremely personal. It can be tough for individuals and families to think about what happens next, but it’s necessary. A Baton Rouge long-term care planning lawyer can help people make plans for nursing homes or for elder care in the future. Set the terms for your assets and your future.

Efficient Results for Every Client

We built the Shelby Law Firm from the ground up in 2002. Our women-owned firm helps people and businesses big and small across Louisiana. We try to help our clients in the most cost-aware manner possible. Our firm serves with integrity while honoring the traditions of our state.

Why Do I Need to Make a Long-Term Care Plan?

Even if you are healthy, a long-term care plan is helpful for protecting your assets. Those without a written plan in place could see their estate being divided by the state. Some other important reasons include:

• Rising costs. The average annual nursing home cost in 2024 was $89,790-$91,250, depending on the living arrangements. Assisted living averages were cheaper at $61,200, but these are still significant costs that can drain savings.
• Strict rules. Medicaid and the state of Louisiana have rules about who can receive help. It is possible to transfer assets to meet these guidelines, but there are rules for these transfers as well. Mistakes in timing or transfers can cause problems.
• Family stress. If there is no long-term care plan in place, children or spouses need to step in at a moment’s notice. These can be tough choices for them to make. Putting pressure on loved ones can lead to strain in relationships.
• Comprehensiveness. A will is a great start to an estate plan. However, one document might not cover all the issues needed for long-term care planning. A full plan with several documents is usually more effective.
• Protecting your home. It’s sometimes possible to keep your home. Without a long-term care plan, your home could be seized as an asset. This plan can give peace of mind to your family.

Think of long-term planning as a safety net for you and your family. It protects your wishes if you can’t speak for yourself.

Legal Tools Used for Long-Term Care Planning

There are multiple ways to protect yourself in advance. Powers of attorney let someone make healthcare or financial choices when a person can’t. A living will speaks for someone during medical emergencies. These are the starting points.

Trusts can also help. An irrevocable trust may allow someone to move assets out of their name while still keeping some control. This can help with Medicaid timing. Generally, 70% of older adults need some form of long-term care services during their lifetime. These arrangements can help you keep the rights to your home and other assets while planning for care.

Legal tools only help when used the right way. Poor timing or vague wording can weaken a plan. That’s why Baton Rouge families often work with estate planning attorneys to make solid plans that fit their needs.

Medicaid and Asset Limits

Medicaid pays for long-term care only when a person meets their criteria. This includes both income and total countable assets. Single applicants have to have under $2,000 in countable assets to qualify. Not everything counts. Some items, like a home or a vehicle, might be exempt. Long-term care planning gets more complicated if one spouse needs more care than the other. The healthy spouse can sometimes keep part of the couple’s assets, but only some of them.

Spending down assets can help meet the limit, but you have to be careful when doing this. Medicaid uses what’s called a five-year lookback period. This means they review the past five years of transactions to prevent people from giving all of their assets away right before applying. Planning ahead can avoid issues with the five-year lookback period.

Families can feel trapped between keeping what they earn and paying for what they need. An effective long-term care plan can reduce this pressure. Sometimes, it’s possible to qualify for benefits and still protect your assets.

FAQs

Q: What Legal Documents Are Needed for Long-Term Care Planning in Louisiana?

A: The legal documents that are needed for long-term care planning in Louisiana include lots of different things that can give trusted people the power to act for you. To do this, you need documents like a power of attorney or a living will. There are different powers of attorney for different types of categories. You can allow multiple people to take care of your estate.

Q: How Does Medicaid Planning Work for Long-Term Care in Baton Rouge?

A: Medicaid planning for long-term care in Baton Rouge isn’t as easy as it sounds. To qualify for Medicaid support in long-term care, there are very strict limits on income and assets. An attorney can help you plan your estate to qualify. There are tools like trusts that can legally help you in meeting your goals.

Q: Can a Person Keep Their Home and Still Qualify for Long-Term Care Benefits?

A: A person can sometimes keep their home and still qualify for long-term care benefits. There are rules that can prevent your house from being included in your total assets. This difference could affect your eligibility for long-term care benefits. This might also be possible if a spouse still lives there. However, there are guidelines that need to be followed to do this.

Q: Can an Estate Plan and a Long-Term Care Plan Be Combined?

A: An estate plan and a long-term care plan can be combined. They tend to work better when they’re made at the same time. Each document covers different parts of a person’s life. An estate plan focuses on assets after death. Long-term care planning helps with assets and plans during life, especially if you suddenly need additional care.

Don’t Leave the Future Up to Chance

Plan for the crisis before it happens. It can help financially, but it also gives loved ones a way to figure out what to do. Legal guidance that respects your wishes can give you an advantage later on. Schedule a consultation with the Shelby Law Firm to help bring your loved ones comfort during a difficult time.