Elder Care Blog
News & Updates from Senior Resource Center, Inc.
Long-Term MassHealth: What Married and Single Applicants Need to Know
When a loved one needs nursing home level care, one of the first questions families ask is simple: will we lose everything paying for it? The honest answer is that MassHealth’s rules are built with real protections in mind, but those protections look very...
Community MassHealth: Getting Help to Stay at Home
When families hear “Medicaid,” they often think it only pays for nursing home care. That’s one of the most common misunderstandings we see at Senior Resource Center, and it’s an expensive one. Massachusetts families frequently spend down savings paying privately for...
When Your PCP Retires… and You Try Everything to Stop Him
Dr. Richard Delany. My great PCP for close to a decade. If you know, you know: Marcus Welby, MD, or Doc Baker from Little House on the Prairie. Everyone needs a great PCP. Dr. Delany — affectionately known as Dr. D — was the kind of doctor who'd make a house call on...
What Switzerland Gets Right About Nursing Home Care
If you've ever walked into a nursing home and felt your heart sink a little (the sterile lighting, the hospital smell, the distant sound of a TV no one is watching) you're not alone. Most of us have been there. And most of us have quietly thought: there has to be a...
What Is Discharge Planning — and What Makes a Discharge Legally Unsafe?
Discharge planning begins the moment a person is told they must leave a hospital or rehabilitation facility, whether they're returning home or moving on to a different living situation. And if you've been through it with a loved one, you already know: this is often...
Brain Health Nutrition Tips for Alzheimer’s Awareness Month
June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, and it's the perfect time to talk about something we can all do, starting today, to help our brains: eating well. Science backs this up... small, everyday habits like nutrition, movement, sleep, and mental stimulation can...
Can a Rental Property Be Treated as Income Instead of an Asset for MassHealth Eligibility?
When someone starts thinking about applying for MassHealth, one of the first things we look at is what they have for assets. That is usually where real estate becomes an issue. If someone owns a second property, or even a home that is no longer their primary...
What Happens to my Spouse’s Income When They Need a Nursing Home?
When one spouse needs nursing home care, one of the first and most common concerns we hear is simple: “Am I going to lose all of our income?” It’s a fair question — and an understandably stressful one. The good news is that, in Massachusetts, the answer is no. The...
Could Malnutrition Be Behind Your Loved One’s Health Decline?
My first patient ever was a world-famous opera singer. She was in her late 80s, struggling with depression and significant weight loss. She was barely eating, and when she did, her choices were limited and lacking in nutrition. Her daughter lived overseas, and her...
What Is the Five-Year Lookback Rule and How Can Families Protect Assets?
When families begin planning for long-term care, one of the most important rules to understand is the five-year lookback period under MassHealth (Medicaid). Many people believe they can simply transfer assets to family members when nursing home care becomes necessary....
What Is a State Pooled Trust (d4C) and How Can It Reduce the Cost of a Nursing Home?
When a loved one relies on government benefits such as MassHealth or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), families often worry about how savings or an unexpected inheritance might affect eligibility. In Massachusetts, these programs have strict financial limits, and...
What Assets Are Exempt When a Loved One Needs Nursing Home Care?
When a loved one requires nursing home care, families often worry that all of their savings and property will need to be spent before help becomes available. Because the cost of long-term care can be significant, many families eventually rely on MassHealth (Medicaid)...