• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC

Vermont Estate Planning Attorneys

Vermont: (802) 879-7133

Attend A Free Workshop
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Meet Our Team
    • What to Expect When Working with Us
  • Services
    • Estate Planning
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • Medicaid Planning & Elder Law
    • Pet Planning
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration
    • Young Families Planning
  • Resources
    • Articles
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Elder Law Resources
      • Burlington
      • Montpelier
      • Rutland
      • St. Johnsbury
      • White River Junction
    • Estate And Gift Tax Figures
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Elder Law
        • In-Home Elder Care
        • Medicaid
        • Planning for Long-Term Care
      • Estate Planning
        • Business Succession Planning
        • Estate and Gift Tax
        • Estate Planning for Blended Families
        • Estate Planning for Parents
        • FAQs for Families Without an Estate Plan
        • LGBTQ Estate Planning
        • Taxes on Inheritances in Vermont
      • Incapacity Planning
      • Inheritance Planning for Minor Children
      • IRA & Retirement Planning
      • Gift, Estate, and Inheritance Taxes
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • Philanthropy and Estate Planning
      • Pet Planning
      • Revocable Living Trust
      • Special Needs Planning
      • Trust Administration
      • Trusts
      • Wills
    • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
    • Medicaid Resources
      • Medicaid Analysis Worksheet
      • Medicaid Guide
      • Vermont Medicaid
    • Presentations
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning for Niches
    • SECURE Act
    • Top Estate Planning Techniques
  • Webinars/Seminars
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • BLOG
  • Contact
Home » Medicaid, Alzheimer’s and the Future

Medicaid, Alzheimer’s and the Future

December 20, 2013 by Stephen Unsworth

Understanding the ultimate outcome of most who are diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s, it’s easy to understand the fear that comes with those realizations when a parent or other loved one has been diagnosed. The questions instantly skyrocket, the answers aren’t always easily found and the sudden realization that life has changed for a family forever is almost overwhelming. But – there’s reason for hope and there’s help available.

A Closer Look at Alzheimer’s

The National Institute on Aging defines Alzheimer’s disease as a progressive and irreversible brain disease that “slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks”. It’s believed there are more than 5 million Americans with some degree of this disease. It’s also the most common cause of dementia, which is the loss of cognitive functioning and reasoning. Like Alzheimer’s, dementia has varying degrees.

Experts say as many as 5.1 million Americans have some degree of this disease.

Usually, the first sign loved ones notice is a loss of memory. It might be dismissed as typical – after all, we can all relate to not remembering where we left our keys (or our cars for some of us), but this begins to become more common as time passes. This memory loss is called “amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI)” and those with this condition have more memory problems.

Not only are there medical concerns, but there are financial and legal considerations as well. Estate planning, Medicaid, wills and living trusts can take a toll on someone who’s already learning to cope with the reality of the disease.

The Financial Burdens

The costs associated with long term care for Alzheimer’s patients is skyrocketing. For a private room in a private nursing facility, the costs in 2011 were $250 a day. That equates to more than $90,000 a year. This doesn’t include all of the peripheral costs, either. It doesn’t include hospital stays, injuries or even the comforts of entertainment, televisions, clothing, etc.

Clearly, few people can afford these costs without some type of supplement. Several states are already taking closer looks at their Medicaid programs in an effort of better providing for residents/patients/taxpayers while also keeping costs down. Remember, there are countless variables that are now a part of the collective Medicaid program that weren’t there as recently as a year ago.

By now, most of us have heard of how heavy the burden is for state Medicaid programs under the new healthcare laws. Half of the states have declined to take that road, while others are proceeding with a heavy degree of caution. What ultimately happens simply is not known. Every day brings something new and different from lawmakers.

These uncertainties highlight the importance of proper elder care planning and estate planning.

Never before has the role of an experienced Medicaid lawyer been so important. These attorneys can help ease the burden and fears for family members. It’s important to understand that timing is everything. With the Medicaid look back periods, too many have realized gifts made several years ago to a beloved grandchild or anyone else for that matter, are now costing them. That’s not to say giving gifts to our loved ones is not possible, it simply means proper planning ensures you’re not spending time or energy later explaining it.

As you can see, these types of diagnoses require a team effort of loving family members, qualified legal representation and skilled medical teams. Trust is everything. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your or your loved one’s legal needs.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Stephen Unsworth
Stephen Unsworth
Stephen A. Unsworth is admitted to practice in both Vermont and Maine, and has more than 30 years of experience in estate planning and business law. His mission is to provide quality estate planning services, including assistance with Living Trusts, Wills, Medicaid Planning, Probate, Trust Administration, Powers of Attorney, Special Needs Planning, and Family Limited Partnerships.
Stephen Unsworth
Latest posts by Stephen Unsworth (see all)
  • 10 Estate Planning Tips to Help Your Plan Succeed - September 7, 2023
  • What Bruce Willis Can Teach Us About Incapacity Planning - August 29, 2023
  • What You Need to Know about an Inherited IRA or 401(k) - August 17, 2023

Filed Under: General Tagged With: financial, legal considerations, Estate Planning, Medicaid, Living Trusts, will, alzheimer's, National Institute on Aging, dementia, mild cognitive imapirment, memory problems

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Estate planning tips
10 Estate Planning Tips to Help Your Plan Succeed
Trust administration Vermont
What Is Involved in Trust Administration in Vermont?
Estate plan components
5 Essential Estate Plan Components
Essex Junction elder law attorney
Protecting Elderly Loved Ones from Financial Abuse
Essex Junction elder law attorneys
What You Need to Know about Elder Abuse
Essex Junction Medicaid planning attorneys
How to Apply for Senior Medicaid in Vermont

Primary Sidebar

Elder Law and Medicaid Planning Attorneys

Unsworth LaPlante, PLC

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Blog Subscription

Sign up to Unsworth LaPlante's estate planning blog to receive all the latest news and updates.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Essex Junction, VT

26 Railroad Ave
Essex Junction, VT 05452
United States (US)
Phone: (802) 879-7133
Fax: (802) 879-0408

Map

unsworth_sidbr_map

Office Hours

Monday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Footer

footer-logo
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The information on this Vermont Attorneys & Lawyers / Law Firm website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this or associated pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc. Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Disclaimer | Site Map | Powered by American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.