In this Elder Law Minute, Kaye Dent explains how you have a legal right to ask for a paper copy of a nursing home contract instead of opting for a digital copy by default.
Video Transcript:
Hi, I’m Kaye DeSelms Dent with Dent Coulson Elder Law. Here with an elder law minute for you. These videos are intended to educate you about the Elder Care Journey, which begins earlier in life than you might think. We hope that you find them useful, and if you have further questions, please call us at Dent Coulson Elder Law.
Today, I’m going to actually direct you to our website for one of our articles about online nursing home contracts. I wrote this article last fall when some clients came to me with issues concerning signing their mother into a Skilled Nursing Facility. The facility was requesting that they complete the application online, and this is becoming very common, especially since COVID. The problem with the online application was that it was requiring them to agree to certain things within the contract before they could proceed to another window, and they didn’t have a choice to opt out, which they legally have and would have had on the paper application.
I advised the clients not to complete the online application and to request a paper application, which the facility was required to provide and did provide to them. By doing the paper application, they were able to opt out of parts of the contract that I advised them against, and they were able to have it more fully customized to their situation. This is very important because some of the things that you might be asked to agree to in a nursing home contract do not benefit you or your loved one who’s going to be in the facility, and they need to be carefully reviewed.
So, for more information about this topic, please again refer to the article that I’ve posted on our website. And if you have concerns about signing somebody into a facility, a Skilled Nursing Facility or Assisted Living, we’re happy to review the contracts and provide advisement. Just call us here at Dent Coulson Elder Law.
Thank you.
Also looking for information about Medicaid and Asset Preservation? Visit these articles:
“Your Trusted Advisor on the Elder Care Journey”
Dent-Coulson Elder Law is dedicated to providing families in the St. Louis area with their Elder Law needs. Our practice areas include Asset Preservation Planning, Veterans Benefits, Medicaid Eligibility, Alzheimer’s Planning, Special Needs Planning, Estate Planning and more. We understand the financial challenges you may face as you and your loved ones grow older. At Dent-Coulson Elder Law, our clients’ well-being is our number one priority. For immediate help, call (618) 632-7000 (IL) or (314) 567-9292 (MO), or Contact Us and we will get in touch as soon as possible.
