Long-Term Care, Broken Down: The Three Levels of Care and What They Cost w/ Elder Care Attorney Maureen Lester

How much does long-term care actually cost, and which parts of it can you plan for? In this episode, Tom Kaminski welcomes back elder law attorney Maureen Lester for a third conversation, this time focused entirely on the cost side of long-term care. Maureen breaks down the three legally defined levels of care, independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing, and walks through what each one actually costs today, from hourly in-home caregivers to full-time skilled nursing facilities. Tom and Maureen also get into how families actually pay for long-term care: private funds, long-term care insurance, and Medicaid, and why leaning on public benefits can mean giving up some choice over where you receive care. What you'll learn in this episode: How independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing are legally defined, and what separates them Current hourly rates for in-home caregivers, and what drives that range up or down Why "memory care" is a marketing term, not a legal one, and the questions to ask before choosing one What assisted living and skilled nursing typically cost per month, and how quickly those costs can climb The difference between short-term rehab (usually covered by Medicare) and true long-term care How private pay, long-term care insurance, and Medicaid work together, and what relying on Medicaid can cost you in choice Why the fine print in an assisted living contract, especially the base room and board rate, matters more than most families realize Resources mentioned: National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA): naela.org, use the Find a Lawyer tool to locate a qualified elder law attorney in any state This episode is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult qualified professionals before making any financial decisions.