When family members become ill and are unable to continue living independently, they should not lose their dignity, their homes, and the savings they worked a lifetime to accumulate. Good private residential nursing homes that feature daily activities and field trips can cost between $7,000 and $12,000 a month.
However, the Government has programs that will help defray these costs. It is legal, available, and effective.
I met an 81-year old widow with a home, rental property, and over $150,000 in savings; she was  a Nursing Home Medi-Cal eligibility worker before she retired. After I showed her what could be done, she was excited and comforted knowing she doesn’t have to lose everything. Her only regret is that she couldn’t help others while she was working for the government (because her training didn’t include this information), but at least now she can help herself.
As an advocate for seniors, I know the importance of having plans in place before family members need assistance.Since working with the government can be quite complex, this makes it even more advisable to have someone to help you navigate through the system. I will continue posting things that will help you better understand what your options are, how I can help you, and where to begin. If you are concerned about nursing home costs in the state of California, you can call me for free information.
Carl Leiter
How do you prepare to help your spouse, friend, or parents qualify for help with nursing home costs? It is an involved and detailed process, usually best left to a professional whenever there is a home or more than $2,000 in assets to protect, but I compiled a basic list for your information.