Bronx Long-Term Care Planning Attorney

As life expectancy rises, more individuals and families are facing the reality of long-term care. Whether it’s a nursing home stay, assisted living, or in-home support, the costs can be overwhelming—often exceeding $150,000 per year in New York. Without proper planning, these expenses can quickly deplete a lifetime of savings. At Cavallo & Cavallo, our Bronx long-term care planning attorneys help NY residents create smart, proactive long-term care plans that protect both health and finances.

What Is Long-Term Care Planning?

Long-term care planning involves preparing for the possibility of needing extended care due to aging, illness, or disability. This type of care includes help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, eating, and medication management. It’s not covered by traditional health insurance or Medicare when provided over the long term.

A solid long-term care plan addresses:

• How and where care will be provided
• How to pay for care without exhausting assets
• Eligibility and planning for Medicaid benefits
• Protection of your home and life savings
• Legal documents that allow trusted individuals to assist with care and finances

At Cavallo & Cavallo, we work with clients to create personalized plans that give peace of mind and financial security for the years ahead.

Why Planning Ahead Matters

Too many families wait until a crisis—such as a fall, stroke, or hospital discharge—before thinking about long-term care. At that point, options may be limited and costs can become unmanageable.

Planning ahead allows you to:

• Qualify for Medicaid benefits without losing your home or savings
• Choose the type of care and setting that suits your lifestyle
• Legally transfer or protect assets while you’re still eligible to do so
• Reduce the burden on your spouse or children
• Avoid court intervention through guardianship

Early planning puts you in control and ensures your wishes are followed.

Medicaid and Long-Term Care

Medicaid is the primary government program that pays for long-term care in New York. However, eligibility is based on strict income and asset limits—and many people are surprised to learn they don’t automatically qualify.

We help clients:

• Create and fund Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts (MAPTs)
• Transfer assets in advance of the five-year lookback period
• Structure spousal income and resource allowances
• Prepare and file Medicaid applications
• Respond to denials, delays, or requests for documentation

A properly timed and executed Medicaid plan can preserve your home and legacy while still securing quality care.

Long-Term Care Options in New York

Depending on your health, lifestyle, and finances, long-term care can take different forms. Your plan should be flexible enough to adapt over time.

Common care options include:

• Home Care: Skilled nursing, personal aides, or part-time help in your own home.
• Assisted Living Facilities: Residential communities with support services, ideal for individuals who need help with daily activities but not constant medical care.
• Nursing Homes: Full-time care for individuals with serious medical conditions, often covered by Medicaid if eligibility is met.
• Adult Day Programs: Daytime care and activities for seniors while allowing family caregivers to work or rest.

Cavallo & Cavallo helps clients evaluate their care options, understand costs, and plan funding in a sustainable and legally sound way.

Key Legal Documents for Long-Term Care Planning

A strong legal foundation is essential when planning for long-term care. These documents ensure your finances and healthcare decisions can be managed by someone you trust if you become unable to do so.

Essential documents include:

• Durable Power of Attorney: Allows a trusted person to manage your financial affairs, access accounts, and sign legal documents.
• Health Care Proxy: Appoints someone to make medical decisions on your behalf.
• Living Will: States your preferences for life-sustaining treatment.
• Revocable or Irrevocable Trust: Organizes and protects assets, and may facilitate Medicaid eligibility.

We help ensure these documents are drafted properly, clearly reflect your intentions, and work together as part of a comprehensive care plan.

Protecting the Family Home

For many Bronx residents, their home is their most valuable asset—and their greatest concern when it comes to long-term care costs. Without planning, a home may be subject to Medicaid recovery or need to be sold to fund care.

We help protect the home through:

• Transferring it into a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust
• Using a life estate deed to preserve residency rights and avoid probate
• Ensuring the healthy spouse can continue living in the home
• Exploring hardship waivers or exemptions for caregivers and heirs

Planning early can prevent the loss of a home that has been in the family for generations.

Long-Term Care Insurance

For some clients, long-term care insurance is part of a comprehensive plan. It helps cover the cost of care in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or at home—without relying on Medicaid or out-of-pocket savings.

We provide guidance on:

• Evaluating whether long-term care insurance is a good fit
• Understanding coverage terms, waiting periods, and benefit caps
• Coordinating insurance benefits with Medicaid and estate planning

Even if you do not have long-term care insurance, we can help you explore alternatives that still provide protection.

Planning for a Spouse or Loved One

If your spouse, partner, or family member needs long-term care, you may worry about their quality of life—and your own financial security. Medicaid planning allows you to preserve income and assets for the healthy spouse (community spouse), while still obtaining coverage for the one who needs care.

We assist families by:

• Structuring spousal resource allowances
• Allocating income to avoid impoverishment
• Filing spousal refusal letters when needed
• Protecting joint accounts and property through trusts

Our approach is designed to protect both spouses—financially, legally, and emotionally.

Frequently Asked Questions About Long-Term Care Planning

When should I start long-term care planning?
Ideally, in your 50s or early 60s—before a health crisis occurs. However, even in a crisis, there are planning tools that can preserve some assets.

Can I transfer my home to my children and still qualify for Medicaid?
Not immediately. Such a transfer may trigger penalties unless done early enough or under specific exemptions. A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust is often a better alternative.

Will Medicare pay for long-term care?
No. Medicare only covers short-term rehab or skilled nursing care for limited periods—not long-term custodial care.

What is the Medicaid five-year lookback?
When you apply for Medicaid, the state reviews asset transfers made within the past five years. Improper transfers may result in a penalty period of ineligibility.

Can I keep my savings and still qualify for Medicaid?
Yes—with proper planning. Assets may be transferred to a trust or spouse, or converted into exempt resources under certain rules.

Is long-term care planning just for the elderly?
Not at all. Unexpected illness or injury can happen at any age. Planning now ensures that you’re protected no matter what the future holds.

Serving Throughout The Bronx

• Riverdale
• Spuyten Duyvil
• Pelham Bay
• Morris Park
• Throggs Neck
• Kingsbridge
• Woodlawn
• Parkchester
• Bedford Park
• Fordham

How Cavallo & Cavallo Can Help

At Cavallo & Cavallo, we’ve been helping Bronx families with elder law and long-term care planning for over three decades. We understand how personal and complex these decisions can be, and we’re here to offer practical, compassionate legal guidance at every stage.

Our long-term care planning services include:

• Medicaid planning and eligibility analysis
• Drafting trusts and advance directives
• Crisis planning for urgent care situations
• Protecting family homes and savings
• Guiding long-term care insurance decisions
• Helping families navigate local care options and legal requirements

We work closely with clients and their families to build a plan that protects assets, honors wishes, and supports independence.

Talk to a Bronx Long-Term Care Planning Attorney Today

You’ve worked hard to build a life and a legacy. Don’t let long-term care costs put it all at risk. Contact Cavallo & Cavallo today to speak with a trusted Bronx long-term care planning attorney and start building a secure future for yourself and your loved ones.