Thursday, May 12, 2011

Elder Attorney in Houston Offers Solid Advice in Pre-Planning for Nursing Home Care

By: Kim Hegwood, Elder Attorney In Houston

The decisions regarding placing a family member into a nursing home are some of the toughest that can be faced.  Talking to a Houston elder attorney in advance can provide an invaluable opportunity for pre-planning.  Unfortunately, many people do not think ahead when it comes to nursing home care, and that means that choices become even harder and more limited.

Pre-planning means that you can take the time necessary to make the right choices, and that the family member can even be involved in the decision-making process.  This is often not the case when a nursing home needs to be found immediately after an illness or injury.  Instead of dealing with the stress of being in crisis while trying to make wise choices, pre-planning with an elder attorney in Houston affords the time to shop around the area and think clearly.

When pre-planning for nursing home care, there are some important questions to ask:

1.  Will a nursing home be the right choice?  There are other options available depending upon the situation, and rather than “settling” for the obvious choice, pre-planning allows you to explore them.  It may be possible for your family member to remain at home with a health-care aide or to move into an assisted-living community.

2.  Is it difficult to get a family member into a nursing home?  By pre-planning with an elder care attorney in Houston, you can familiarize yourself with the process and go through the steps in a logical manner, rather than rushing to find an opening and being overwhelmed.  The admission process, negotiating costs, and dealing with an estate all take time and energy, and you will likely handle it much better without being in the midst of a crisis.

3. How do I find the right nursing home?  Your elder care attorney will likely have some great suggestions for you, as will your loved one’s doctors, social workers, and other health care professionals.  Once you’ve compiled a list of recommendations, go visit in person and plan to meet with the director.  If possible, your family member can be a part of this process, ensuring a better fit and more cooperation later on down the road.

Due to the Nursing Home Reform Act, there are a number of duties that the facility will be bound to perform.  Working with an experienced elder care attorney in Houston will ensure that you know your rights, as well as the responsibilities of both the family and the nursing home you choose.