Elder Law Matters — a monthly blog by Glenn A. Deig

When my Indiana clients come to us for crisis planning and a loved one needs to be transferred to a facility because they can not be kept at home any longer, the first question before facilities are researched, is whether assisted living or a nursing home facility is the right fit for the loved one. Assisted living and nursing homes are two types of care facilities for seniors who need help with daily tasks. The main 
The Public Health Emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has upended our lives in ways we could never have imagined. It has also had significant implications for Medicaid benefits in Indiana for those Indiana residents receiving Medicaid coverage at home, assisted living, and nursing homes. It is essential to consider how the end of the Public Health Emergency will affect Indiana Medicaid and its beneficiaries. One of the most significant ramifications of the end of 

The Sick Spouse

Posted on February 25, 2023 
Many times, couples come to see me, and while one spouse is in relatively good health; the other is what I would describe as the “sick spouse”.  Their situations vary tremendously depending on their age, years married, children from each side, assets, and income.  However, many times the trigger that causes someone to contact the office is the declining health of one of the spouses.  The cause could be natural aging or could be a 

Will I lose my home if I go to a nursing home?

Posted on January 25, 2023 
One common misconception for those who have entered a nursing home is that the home must be sold before one can attain Medicaid eligibility. This is simply not true. The home is exempt from counting as a resource for Medicaid eligibility purposes if it is the principal residence of the following: • The applicant/recipient; • The spouse of the applicant/recipient; • The parent of an applicant/recipient under age 18; • The biological or adoptive child under 

Some Beneficiary Designation Mistakes to Avoid

Posted on December 25, 2022 
Early in my legal career a person’s Last Will and Testament dictated where a person’s estate would go to and who was in charge.  Today, a Last Will and Testament is still important for many issues, but the common use and practice of beneficiary designations for almost any type of property interest in Indiana can control who receives much of their estate, and not their Last Will and Testament. In Indiana, you can name a