Page 29 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - June 2016 - 23-06

Senior Times - June 2016
Page 29
Battle Creek Manor
675 Wagner Drive Battle Creek, MI 49017
269.969.6244
www.advantageliving.net
• Short Term Rehab
• Spacious Private Rooms
• Specialized Alzheimer’s /
Dementia Unit
• Most Insurances Accepted Including Medicare
& Medicaid
Celebrating 2015
National Quality Award
ask
THE ATTORNEY
Michael B. Walling, Attorney, Special to Senior Times
A NURSING HOME IS A NURSING HOME
QUESTION: My father may have to go into a nursing home soon. He lives alone and has dementia. He doesn’t have any assets. I have heard that the Medicaid nursing homes are much worse than the regular nursing homes. Is that true?
ANSWER: No. There are no sepa- rate nursing homes for Medicaid in Southwest Michigan. All of the nursing homes are the same for both Medicaid and private pay. I believe the only dif- ference is that you must share a room with another person if you are on Medicaid. Other than that, it is the same staff, the same care workers, the same everything.
Nursing homes are much nicer than they use to be. When I first started doing elder law and going to nursing homes, which was over 16 years ago, I use to have to put Vicks under my nose because the nursing homes smelled so bad. That is not true any longer. The nursing homes are very clean now. In fact, they even smell clean! They are bright now and not dingy like they use to be.
Nursing homes also have a lot of activities such as bingo, cards, live entertainment, exercise classes, etc. There are a lot of opportunities for the residents to socialize. This is very
beneficial for persons who were alone at home most of the time.
In fact, many people who lived alone were very resistant to go into a nursing home initially. But once they were there for a month or two, they really like it. Why? Because they are not sitting home alone day after day.
Being alone, especially when you get older, can be very lonely and depressing. All they end up doing is waiting for that weekly phone call
from their children. Once they get to the nursing home, they have people
to talk to, laugh with, and activities to participate in. That can make a world of difference in their life. Your father’s quality of life may improve a great deal in a nursing home. And that’s the goal right? To make your parents as happy as they made you.
Michael B. Walling is an Elder Law attorney with a Master of Laws Degree. He is also the Managing Partner of The Elder Law Center and the law firm of Michael B. Walling, PLC. Please send any questions you would like addressed to: Michael B. Walling, 4625 Beckley Road, Building 400, Suite 4003, Battle Creek, MI 49015. You may also call (269) 968-1101 to set up a free initial consultation. This column is intended for general information purposes only and should not be considered as legal advice to any particular person.
No one funeral service is right for every person. That’s why we offer a variety of options for the most appropriate service, the most fitting farewell.
105 Capital Ave., NE • 269-962-5527 • www.farleyestesdowdle.com
BATTLE CREEK | AUGUSTA | RICHLAND
Centenarians
Centenarians from across Calhoun County gathered in a celebration of life at Schuler’s in Marshall recently at an event sponsored by Calhoun County Senior Services and Region 3B Area Agency on Aging.
Seniors aged 99 and older, along with their caregivers, area dignitaries and others from the aging community gathered for a wonderful lunch and pre- sentation. It was a joyous celebration with many memories shared.
Gather
PROTECT YOUR ASSETS FROM THE NURSING HOME
The
Elder Law
Center
Attorneys Helping Seniors
(269) 968-1101
● Asset Protection - Nursing Home
● Wills
● Trusts
● Durable Power of Attorney
● Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
● Guardianships / Conservatorships
● Probate
● Trust Administration
Michael B. Walling
Elder Law Attorney
Offices in Battle Creek & Portage
Save
the Date!
Friday, June 10, 2016
Registration and lunch 12:00 p.m. Shotgun Start @ 1:00 p.m.
Cedar Creek Golf Course
14000 Renton Road • Battle Creek, MI $65.00/person • 4 person teams
(Includes lunch, golf and cart)
and education for families in our community.
MEMORIAL SPONSORSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE!
Call Jenny to discuss all sponsorship opportunities and to register a team!
(269) 969-8900 or email marketing@gantonseniorcommunities.com