The thought of enrolling a loved one in a long-term stay at a local nursing home can be upsetting enough for families, notwithstanding the alarming uptrend in patient evictions for reasons almost always relating to the ability to pay. When facing an eviction, families are often left scrambling to find appropriate substitute care, which often proves difficult for those patients facing serious medical issues. And, unfortunately, the rash of evictions in Michigan -- as well as nationwide -- is closely correlated to the severity of the patient's dementia and daily behavior, with the most combative patients facing sudden and abrupt involuntary removals.

According to industry experts, the trend toward evicting the most “difficult” patients can be tied directly to the profitability of the nursing facility, with these patients necessarily requiring additional staff and monitoring. When the cost of supervising the patient becomes too great, facilities do not hesitate to have the patient removed in favor a less-intensive resident.

According to data analyzed by the Associated Press, complaints against long-term care facilities concerning involuntary transfers are up 57 percent since the year 2000. Moreover, the issue served as the top-reported grievance in 2014, with nearly 11,400 complaints lodged.

As the number of elderly Americans continues to grow, long-term care planning should be at the forefront of the financial planning conversation. However, many individuals wait until long-term care is imminent to begin considering the costs -- which are staggering.

If you are concerned about the future, particularly with regard to long-term nursing care, we encourage you to speak to a reputable elder law attorney today. There are many ways to plan for the costs of long-term care, including asset protection and applying for Medicaid benefits. To learn more, contact us today. 

Contact an experienced elder law attorney today!