Justin, My aunt is moving into assisted living, but she can’t afford it long-term. Does Medicaid help pay for assisted living facilities or just nursing homes? — Cindy
Cindy, Great question. Many people think Medicaid only covers nursing home care, but in Arkansas, there’s a program called Living Choices Assisted Living Waiver that can help with assisted living costs.
This program is designed for seniors who need help activities of daily leaving or who struggle with dementia but don’t need the full medical care of a nursing home. It pays part of the cost of assisted living, including personal care services and some medical oversight after the contribution of a patient liability amount.
However, there are strict financial and medical eligibility rules. The income and asset limits are similar to nursing home Medicaid, and your aunt must need enough help with daily activities to qualify. If she’s over the limits, there may still be planning strategies to help her qualify while protecting her assets.
We help families prepare for and navigate Living Choices applications all the time. Visit ElrodFirm.com to learn more, send us a message, or request a no-charge strategy session to see if this program could help your aunt.