Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Payment for Caregivers


Several months ago an article appeared in the local newspaper about being compensated for family caretaking.  While I knew about programs for low income families in my county, I was not aware of concerns for middle and upper income families.  It seems that if the individual made gifts to their caregiver and then went into a skilled nursing facility and applied for Medicaid, the individual would be under the “5 year lookback” period (monies that were given to others for 5 years prior to the application for Medicaid) and if the amounts were substantial, the gifts might create an ineligibility period for Medicaid.

The attorneys (the authors of the article) suggest creating a written document that spells out exactly what services will be offered and the reasonable amount of money given for each service.  For example, with meals (who will do the shopping, cooking and cleaning up), who will do home maintenance, who will do the bookkeeping (bill paying, balancing the checkbook), and who will provide transportation (who buys the gas, services the car, pays for insurance and/ or car payments).  Also, it is suggested that a written log be kept of the time and money spent. 

Record keeping is essential.  Look into a “Caregiver Agreement” with an attorney to make sure the individual will not be penalized if he/she needs to go on Medicaid.  Also, talking with an attorney may educate you as the caregiver about your responsibility to report your income to the IRS. 

Thoughts?  Comments? 


Tuesday, July 2, 2019

We've Moved


But are we organized?  We unpacked, hung a few pictures, continued to give away “stuff” that couldn’t fit in the space and now we are reorganizing.  Take heed, if you are planning a move, add several months to the timetable to reach that sense of “moved in”. 

Of course, during the process, life continues:  laundry, grocery shopping, pre scheduled appointments, cooking, etc.

Lessons learned:  complete post office change of address forms 6-8 weeks in advance of the move; contact credit card companies, insurance companies (health/car/homeowners/renters/life), family members, doctors, financial services, mail service pharmacy, shopping sites that have your address preprogrammed in their system, charities you may want to receive mail from, and any other contacts from whom you receive mail.  Go to AAA or go online for a change in driver’s license and owner’s card.  To easily donate clothing or small household items, keep a few large bags or small boxes in which to put things that you thought you could use and now realize you can’t.

And after the move is completed and the organizing/reorganizing is done, sit back and celebrate.  You are entering a new phase of your life.  Focus on the positives, the negatives will always be there.
And think about the following: Does my will need to be changed?  Do I have a secure place for my important papers and do the important people know the location? 

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