Did you know that Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder stemming from the gradual destruction of nerve cells in the particular part of the brain that impacts motor skills and coordinating muscle movement? Parkinson’s disease can be a stressful diagnosis because it progresses in individuals in a variety of ways, and there is no way to know how severe and how quickly the disease will cause debilitation. If you have a loved one suffering from Parkinson’s disease, you know that caring for your loved one, especially as the disease advances, can be emotionally, physically, and financially draining.
While many Parkinson’s patients may wish to remain at home as long as possible, the crippling effect of the disease and need for more full-time care can make staying at home an unrealistic or unworkable option. Although nursing homes may seem prohibitively expensive, there may be many ways to plan so that you and your loved one do not go bankrupt paying for nursing home care. Medicare and Medicaid may provide options for coverage, as could Social Security Disability Benefits and Veterans Affairs benefits.
When faced with the decision of whether to move to nursing home care, it can be important to reach out to an experienced elder law attorney to assist you and your loved one in planning for how to obtain the most coverage for the care. Even if the thought of a nursing home seems far down the road because your loved one has just received a diagnosis, an elder law attorney can assist you in understanding all of your options and putting the most effective plan into place. Please contact our office to schedule an appointment.