Residential Care & Assisted Living Bed Availability Report

Richard and Mary Klein didn't know what to do when Richard's multiple sclerosis took a turn for the worse. The couple, married 40 years, lived in the North County area. Richard had multiple sclerosis for 12 years, but as his illness progressed, Mary began to have trouble caring for him.

The Next Step/Elder Assist completed a Geriatric Assessment of Richard Klein and developed a plan of care that enabled him to stay home for as long as possible.

"He became much worse this past December," said Mary. "He would fall down and I could not help him up on my own. We would have to call a neighbor or the police to help. When Richard fell and broke his hip, we decided he needed nursing home care."

With the assistance of The Next Step/Elder Assist, the couple found a suitable nursing home, but was overwhelmed by a maze of financial decisions.

"With this new turn in our lives, we needed help planning our finances," said Mary. "Our daughter recommended an attorney, who told us about The Next Step/ElderAssist."

The Next Step/ElderAssist is a resource for families who are struggling to care for a loved one. The company offers low cost consultations and assistance for families who are applying for Medicaid, searching for home health or nursing home care and struggling with the planning necessary for long term care.

"I felt so confused before I talked to the consultant at The Next Step/ElderAssist," said Mary. "They helped me plan for the cost of long term. They had immediate answers and they put complicated matters in simple terms so that I could understand."

When Mary first came to The Next Step/ElderAssist, she was concerned about the overwhelming cost of nursing home care. Richard's Medicare coverage was ending, and the prospect of $4,000.00 per month in nursing home bills was quite unsettling. The Next Step/ElderAssist worked with the Klein's to determine their assets and develop a straightforward plan addressing the need for future Medicaid benefits.

In the case of the Kleins, The Next Step/Elder Assist developed a strategy that focused on the Division of Assets program. The Division of Assets (Spousal Impoverishment Protection) allows a married couple to receive Medicaid benefits before all their assets are consumed by the cost of care.

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