As our parents need for care increases, so do the costs. What if your parent can’t afford to pay for the care he or she needs?
Two helpful websites can help you locate affordable and subsidized senior housing, resources and services.
PayingforSeniorCare.com is maintained by the American Elder Care Research Organization, which aims to help people plan and implement long term care.
The website:
- Explains the types of senior care available, the costs, and different ways to pay for the care.
- Has a free Eldercare Financial Resource Locator Tool which you can use to locate financial assistance for senior care in your parent’s community.
- Provides information on paid caregiver programs and cost savings technology such as medication management.
Benefitscheckup.org is maintained by the National Council on Aging. It maintains and regularly updates information on 2,500 federal, state and private benefits programs available nationwide.
The website:
- Provides information on different types of benefits including medications, income assistance, tax relief, food and nutrition, and more.
- Has a free tool that connects seniors to benefit programs for which they may qualify.
If your parent needs additional help to pay for long term care, consider applying for Medicaid. An elder law attorney can help you review all of your parent’s available resources and develop a plan to qualify your parent for this program. To find an elder law attorney visit the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys website, naela.org.
I encourage you to explore these resources before committing to pay for your parent’s care with your own money. While we love our parents and want or feel obligated to help, quitting jobs to provide care or paying care expenses out of our own pockets can be a slippery and dangerous slope, greatly impacting our own ability to retire.
This blog is published to provide you with general information only, and is not intended to provide specific or comprehensive advice. Money Care, LLC encourages individuals to seek advice from competent professionals when appropriate.
