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Senior Times - March 2026 Page 23Call for a free initial consultation*.*Except Asset Protection Planning(269) 968-1101Offices in Battle Creek & Kalamazoowww.wallinglawoffice.comHelping seniors for over two decades.MICHAEL B. WALLING, PLCMICHAEL B. WALLINGElder Law Attorney Author of \Wills%u2022 Trusts%u2022 Powers of AttorneyLady Bird Deeds%u2022 Nursing Home PlanningDon't Lose Everything YouHave To the Nursing HomeI can help you save up to 100% of your assets.Michael B. Walling, J.D., LL.M.Let me help you properly draft and fund a trust before you or your spouse enter a nursing home; it could save you over $50,000!and put your home in the trust. That can save you up to $80,000 if one of you must go into a nursing home. Third, if you are single, there is not too much you can do ahead of time except longterm care insurance. There are also options when the time comes and you must go into a facility. For a married couple, most all of your assets can be saved if you must enter a nursing home. For a single person, at least one-half of your assets can be saved. But looking into an assisted living facility is a good option too. Assisted living facilities costs are about $3,500- $7,500 a month or more; depending on the care you need. Assisted living facilities are designed to keep you there for the rest of your life. Just remember that you have income (Social Security, retirement, pension, etc). Take the cost of the assisted living facility then subtract your income and what is left is your %u201cshortfall.%u201d You can make up the shortfall from your assets like selling your home, investments, savings, etc. Or, your kids! Let your kids pay the shortfall, haha. Assisted living is a much better financial alternative to a nursing home. It is worth spending your money to have a much improved quality of life.I would suggest that you see an attorney who specializes in Elder Law and Estate Planning. He or she can assess your situation and your goals and come up with a good plan for you.Michael B. Walling is an Elder Law attorney with an advanced Master of Laws degree. He manages the Elder Law Center and the law firm of Michael B. Walling, PLC. Mr. Walling is also a part-time Professor at Western Michigan University. Please send any questions you would like addressed to: Walling Law Office, 4625 Beckley Road, Bldg 400, Battle Creek, MI, 49015. This column is intended for general information purposes only and should not be considered as legal advice to any particular person.LONG-TERM PLANNINGQUESTION: My Mother is in a nursing home and the cost is almost $15,000 a month. It took all of her money. She worked so hard her whole life and now all of her money is gone. I don%u2019t want that to happen to me. What can I do? ANSWER: I hear what you are saying. I have done nursing home planning for 25 years and I hear all the sad stories. To think of all the things that people go without in order to save money then just lose it all when they go into a nursing home. First of all, it%u2019s not the nursing home%u2019s fault. They provide a much needed service to help people. The workers there that I have met are all very nice and very caring people. So I will not say anything bad about a nursing home. When I first became a lawyer and visited nursing homes in the late 90%u2019s, they were much different. I used to have to put Vicks under my nose because they smelled of urine and other things. They are not like that anymore. They are very clean and even the food is good! However, the cost keeps going up, which is hard for everyone. An alternative to the nursing home is an assisted living facility. They are building new ones all the time. Some are beautiful! It is basically a small apartment with the services of a hotel, haha. They can do your laundry, prepare your food, clean your room, help you shower, etc. They also have many activities, people to talk with, trips to the zoo, and so on. Once again, the staff is always so kind. And the food is great! There are some good pre-planning options available. First, depending on your age, look into long-term care insurance. I know of a very good policy for long-term care. If you are interested, just call my office. Second, if you are married, have a revocable trust done for you and your spouse by an attorney Michael Walling, Special to Senior TimesATTORNEY Ask theCall today 269-382-0515MilestoneSeniorServices.orgDiscover Milestone. We are here to help.%u2022 Home Delivered Meals%u2022 Home Accessibility Modifications%u2022 Ramps%u2022 Home Safety Assessments%u2022 Home Repairs%u2022 MI Choice Waiver%u2022 Companionship ServicesMilestone offers a wide range of services to help seniors stay safe and healthy living at home. Branch Area Transit AuthorityCurb to Curb Transportation %uf0a1 Half Fare for Handicapped & SeniorCitizens Over 60 %uf0a1 Weekly Subscriptions Available %uf0a1 Equipped forthe Handicapped %uf0a1 Open Seven Days a WeekCALL (517) 278-5889306 S. Clay Street, Coldwater, MI %uf0a1 www.branchareatransit.com