Protect Your Assets from Nursing Home Bills—Even If It’s Already Too Late | Repair The Roof Podcast

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Estate Planning and Elder Law specialist Ted Gudorf delves into the rising financial burden of nursing home care, detailing the typical missteps families make and sharing effective approaches to shield assets. He stresses seeking qualified help and answers common questions and myths surrounding elder law.

Unlock Peace of Mind: Shield Your Savings from Crushing Long-Term Care Costs

Imagine waking up to find your nest egg vanishing under the weight of skyrocketing nursing home bills.

You’ve spent decades building a comfortable retirement and creating a legacy for your loved ones. But what if one health crisis could jeopardize everything? Nursing home care now averages $106,000 per year, and by 2031 it’s projected to soar to $169,000 per year. A typical stay lasts over 2 years for men and 3.7 years for women—and if memory issues arise, it can stretch well beyond 8 years. Suddenly, a long-term care event can cost $300,000 to over $1 million, wiping out savings and leaving little for your family.

You’re not alone if you lie awake at night, worrying about how to protect what you’ve worked so hard to earn. For 30 years, I’ve guided families through the maze of elder law and Medicaid planning. I’ve witnessed firsthand how smart strategies can transform a looming crisis into an opportunity to safeguard your future.

Key Takeaways:

  • Many families are worried about the high costs of nursing home care.
  • Proper planning can protect a significant portion of family assets.
  • Long-term care costs are rising rapidly, making planning essential.
  • Common mistakes include listening to the wrong advice and not using expert help.
  • The earlier you plan, the more options you have for protection.
  • Legal strategies can help families qualify for Medicaid without losing assets.
  • The cost of legal services is often outweighed by the savings achieved.
  • Families with modest savings can benefit significantly from planning.
  • It's almost never too late to protect assets, even in crisis situations.
  • Family disagreements about elder care can be resolved with expert guidance.

3 Eye-Opening Insights You Can’t Afford to Ignore

  1. Costs Are Exploding Faster Than You Think
     – Nursing home rates are climbing by 5–7% annually, outpacing Social Security COLAs and typical investment returns.
     – At today’s rates, a 3-year average stay costs $318,000. By 2031, the same stay could top $507,000.
     – Every month you delay planning may add $10,000 or more to your family’s expenses.

  2. Most Families Make the Same 5 Costly Mistakes
     – Following advice to “spend down” assets often means giving away money unnecessarily.
     – DIY Medicaid or VA applications get denied, delaying benefits by months.
     – Skipping expert legal help can cost you $100,000+ in protected assets.
     – Worrying about attorney fees ignores that a flat fee is typically a small fraction of what you save.
     – Waiting until crisis mode slashes your options—and your bottom line.

  3. Real People, Real Savings
     – Mary & John faced a $300,000 spend-down requirement. With the right plan, they protected 75% of their savings.
     – Susan’s mother was already paying $9,000 per month out of pocket. Even at this late stage, we reclaimed 50% of her assets—over $100,000 kept in the family.
     – On average, our clients preserve 50–100% of their assets while securing the care they need.

Why “Now” Is the Critical Window

Time is not your friend when long-term care looms. Each month without planning can erode your wealth. Here’s why acting today matters:

  • Accumulation of Cost: A delay of just six months at $9,000 per month equals $54,000 in avoidable expenses.

  • Restricted Options: Many powerful asset-protection tools require advance planning. Once you’re deep in spend-down territory, options narrow dramatically.

  • Emotional Toll: Families under crisis stress often make rushed decisions—sometimes selling assets at a loss or agreeing to suboptimal care arrangements.

By taking control early, you maximize your toolkit: from Medicaid‐friendly trusts to veteran’s aid programs. These strategies are fully sanctioned by law and designed to preserve your dignity and savings.

What You Can Do Today: A 3-Step Blueprint

You don’t need to become an elder law expert—that’s our job. Our proven program follows three simple steps:

  1. Personalized Strategy Session
     We dive into your unique circumstances—asset picture, health status, family dynamics—and craft a custom plan that fits “like a glove.”

  2. Hands-On Support
     From filing paperwork to talking with government agencies, we handle every detail so you can focus on caring for your loved one.

  3. Ongoing Guidance
     We walk you through each milestone, flagging pitfalls and adjusting as rules change. No surprises, no confusion—just clarity and confidence.

These steps aren’t hypothetical. They’re battle-tested in real families facing urgent needs.

What Happens If You Do Nothing

It’s easy to procrastinate when you’re healthy or assume “it won’t happen to me.” But consider these scenarios:

  • Sudden Health Crisis: An unexpected stroke or Alzheimer’s diagnosis can force you into crisis planning—when fewer tools are available and costs skyrocket.

  • DIY Missteps: Filing for Medicaid without expert review leads to denials that delay benefits by 6–12 months, during which you’re still paying full price.

  • Family Strife: Disagreements among heirs about strategy can lead to legal battles and wasted assets—sometimes more than the attorney fees you feared paying.

Contrast that with families who start early: they retain wealth, minimize stress, and ensure that care decisions serve family harmony, not financial desperation.

Your Next Step: Secure Your Free Strategy Call

If you’re still wondering whether it’s too late or if your savings are “too small,” consider this:

  • Even modest estates of $50,000–$100,000 can benefit dramatically. Why watch that hard-earned money vanish?

  • Legal fees are a tiny fraction of the assets at risk—and Medicaid explicitly allows you to pay an attorney for planning.

  • Every element of our approach is 100% legal and ethical. We’re not hiding assets; we’re using protections Congress designed.

Ready to take control? Click below to schedule your free, no-obligation 30-minute strategy call. You’ll walk away with insights tailored to your situation, whether or not you decide to move forward with our services.

Conclusion

Long-term care doesn’t have to mean financial ruin. With costs climbing into the hundreds of thousands—and even millions—you can’t afford to wait or rely on incomplete advice. By understanding the “why” behind government benefits and leveraging proven legal strategies, families like yours are preserving 50–100% of their assets while securing the care they need.

Transcript: Prefer to Read — Click to Open

Ted (00:00.046)

Are you worried about the high costs of nursing home care? Afraid that a health problem could wipe out your savings and leave nothing for your family? If you’re losing sleep over how to protect what you’ve worked for, you’re not alone. My name is Ted Gudorf, Board Certified Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney, and I help families like yours protect their money from long-term care costs. In the next few minutes, I’ll show you how you can shield your savings, get benefits you deserve,

and keep your family financially secure, even if you think it’s too late. Over the past 30 years, I’ve helped hundreds of families navigate the confusing world of elder law planning. Take Mary and John, for example. When John needed nursing home care, they were told they’d have to spend almost all their $300,000 in savings before getting Medicaid. After working with us, they protected over 75 % of their money while still getting John the care he needed.

Or consider Susan, whose mother was already in a nursing home paying $9,000 each month from her savings. Even at this crisis stage, we use strategies that saved half her mother’s money, keeping well over $100,000 for Susan’s family. These aren’t rare cases. Our clients regularly protect 50 to 100 % of their assets while making sure their loved one gets good care.

The truth is that long-term care costs are going up fast. The average nursing home now costs over $106,000 per year, and that’s expected to reach $169,000 by 2031. Men typically stay for 2.2 years, women for 3.7 years, and people with memory problems, like my own father, have well over eight years. This means a long-term care event

could cost your family anywhere from $300,000 over $1 million. What’s worse, people often get conflicting advice. The nursing home says one thing, the Medicaid worker says another, your financial advisor might say something completely different. This confusion leads to costly mistakes when you’re already dealing with a hard situation. Let me share the five critical mistakes I see families make all the time.

Ted (02:22.383)

Mistake number one, listening to the wrong people about spending down assets. I recently met with a woman whose husband needed nursing home care. The nursing home told her to spend half their savings before applying for Medicaid. This was completely wrong. With proper planning, she didn’t need to spend down at all. Another family was told to give all their money to the nursing home until they had less than $2,000. We saved that family over $140,000.

by using legal strategies instead. Mistake number two, applying for benefits without proper planning. Many people apply for VA benefits or Medicaid benefits on their own, get denied, and lose months of potential benefits. One client applied for VA benefits without planning first. It took the VA 10 months to deny their claim before they came to see me. A simple fix could have qualified them from the start.

but they lost 10 months of benefits. Mistake number three, not using expert help. The rules for Medicaid and BA benefits are extremely complex and change often. Trying to navigate the system alone is like trying to do your own surgery. I’ve seen families argue for months about whether to hire an elder law attorney only to lose over $100,000 in assets that could have been protected. Mistake number four, thinking a lawyer will cost too much.

The fee for our services is a small fraction of what we save for families. We charge a flat fee that’s clear upfront. And Medicaid does not penalize you for paying an attorney to help with planning. The benefits we get for clients are often tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Mistake number five, waiting until it’s too late. While we can help in crisis situations, the earlier you plan, the more options you have.

Every month that passes without proper planning could cost your family $10,000 or more in unnecessary expenses. The good news is there’s a better way. The secret is understanding how Medicaid and other government benefits actually work and using legal strategies to protect your assets while qualifying for these programs. Our elder care program uses three simple steps to shield assets. First,

Ted (04:46.671)

We meet with you to understand your unique situation and design a customized plan that fits like a hand in a glove. Second, we handle all the paperwork, applications, and communication with government agencies. We take this burden off your shoulders so you can focus on caring for your loved one. Third, we guide you through the entire process, making sure you avoid the common pitfalls that cost other families thousands of dollars. Imagine having peace of mind.

Knowing that if you or your spouse needs care, you have a clear plan in place. Picture your family freed from the burden of making tough financial decisions during a health crisis. Think about preserving the money you’ve worked so hard for, ensuring it benefits your children and grandchildren rather than being spent on care costs. With proper planning, this isn’t just possible. It’s achievable for most families, even those with modest savings.

if what I’ve described sounds like something you need. Here’s what to do next. Click the button below to schedule a free no obligation strategy call with our team. During this 30 minute call, we’ll discuss your specific situation and outline possible protection strategies. When you click that button, you’ll be taken to our calendar where you can select a time that works for you.

After that, you’ll speak with one of our elder law specialists who will begin creating your customized protection plan. Now, I know what some of you might be thinking right now, but my mom is already in a nursing home. Isn’t it too late for us? I hear this all the time, and I’m happy to tell you that it’s almost never too late. Even if your loved one is already receiving care, we can often protect a significant portion of your assets. Remember Susan’s story I mentioned earlier.

Her mother was already in a facility when they came to us, and we still saved half of her assets. You might also be wondering, isn’t this all very complicated? I don’t understand all these rules. And you’re right. These rules are complex and they change frequently. But here’s the good news. You don’t need to understand all the details. That’s exactly why we’re here. We handle all the complicated parts for you. Just like a doctor handles the complex parts.

Ted (07:05.808)

of a medical procedure. You don’t need to become an expert. That’s our job. Some of you may be thinking, I don’t have that much money saved up. Is this even worth it for someone like me? The truth is, families with modest savings often benefit the most from our help. If you have $50,000 or $100,000 saved up, wouldn’t you rather preserve that for your family than watch it all go to a nursing home? Even smaller estates can benefit significantly from proper planning.

I also hear concerns like, this sounds like we’re trying to cheat the system somehow. Let me be very clear. Every single thing we do is completely legal and ethical. We use strategies that are specifically allowed under the law. We’re not hiding assets. We’re using legal provisions designed to protect families while ensuring care needs are met. And finally, many families tell me, my siblings and I can’t agree on what to do.

Family disagreements about elder care are incredibly common. Part of our process includes family meetings, where we explain options to everyone involved, answer questions, and help reach consensus. Often, having an objective expert in the room can resolve these disagreements and get everyone working together on the same page. The time to protect your family’s future is now. Every month that passes without proper planning,

could cost your family thousands of dollars. Click the button below to schedule your free strategy call. There’s no obligation and you’ll gain valuable insights about your options, regardless of whether you decide to work with us or not. Don’t leave your family’s financial security to chance. Don’t risk losing everything you’ve worked for to long-term care costs. Take control today by scheduling your free strategy call.

Your family deserves the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’ve done everything possible to protect them and your money. Click the button below now and let’s get started.

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