Those individuals with elderly relatives facing the prospect of an extended stay in a nursing home facility must deal with more than the emotional difficulties associated with their decision. Today, they must also deal with the extremely high cost associated with paying for extended nursing home care, which can cost well over $3,500.00 a month. With proper Medicaid planning by an experienced advisor, one can insure that their assets will be passed on to their children rather than to the nursing home.

  Married individuals face a more serious problem when they must place their spouse in the nursing home. Couples used to have to get divorced or declare bankruptcy to enable the spouse at home to keep enough money to live on. This is no longer the case. Under current law, the community spouse, with proper advice from a lawyer, can keep most, if not all their assets and sufficient income to pay his or her bills.