Experts tell us that we are poised to make history by the year 2050 when the population of older adults (age 65 and older) will outnumber its younger demographic counterpart (age 21 and younger) for the first time ever. With the population of older adults in the United States growing at a heretofore unseen rate, issues that concern the elderly have also taken on a heightened importance to society and to the legal community. As of the 2010 Census, there were 8,573 residents living in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. In Thief River Falls, 17.7 percent of the population is aged 65 or older with 15.1 percent of all households consisting of and individual over the age of 65 living alone.
If you are a senior, a caregiver, or a loved one, you will likely have a need for elder resources in the community. Finding those resources to help with the issues seniors face can be challenging. To help you, the elder law attorneys at German Law have compiled some commonly used elder law resources for the Thief River Falls, Minnesota area.
Local Government and Law Enforcement
As a resident of Thief River Falls it is always a good idea to have some of the more frequently used local government resources handy. Many of those can be found on the City of Thief River Falls website where you will find helpful information and links that will help you discover the city. It is equally important to be able to quickly and easily navigate to the relevant law enforcement agency online, should you need them. The Thief River Falls Police Department and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office service residents who live in the Thief River Falls, Minnesota area.
Nursing Homes, Assisted Living, and Home Health Care
Although the average American can now expect to live almost twice as long as he or she would have just a century ago, our bodies cannot escape the effects of the natural aging process. For many seniors, this means more frequent doctor visits and an increase in injuries and illnesses that eventually lead to the need for home health care, assisted living alternatives, or skilled nursing care. If so, the following resources may be helpful to you in locating the right service or facility in, or around, Thief River Falls:
- Nursing Home Compare, found on the Medicare.gov website. is the official U.S. government’s website for Medicare, offering you the ability to search for and compare licenses nursing homes anywhere in the country.
- Minnesota Care Planning Councilwhich offers information on long-term care options as well as a wealth of additional information and resources for seniors and their families.
- Managed by the U.S. Department on Aging, Eldercare Locatoralso offers a searchable database to help you locate a facility in Las Cruces or the surrounding area.
Unfortunately, one of the biggest concerns when you, or a loved one, need LTC is the cost of that care. The cost of LTC in the United States has increased right along with the older population, and is expected to continue to increase in the years to come. In 2018, the average yearly cost of LTC throughout the United States was close to $90,000. In the State of Minnesota overall, the average annual cost of LTC runs considerably higher than the national average at a staggering $122,260 per year for LTC in 2018. Because neither Medicare nor most basic health insurance plans cover the expenses associated with LTC, it is critical that you plan ahead to ensure you can cover your LTC expenses if necessary. Fortunately, Medicaid does cover LTC expenses; however, the Medicaid eligibility guidelines can make qualifying for benefits difficult if you failed to plan ahead. The elder law and Medicaid planning attorneys at German Law don’t want you to get caught unprepared which is why we strongly recommend incorporating both long-term care planning and Medicaid planning into your comprehensive estate plan to ensure that you are prepared and protected in the event LTC is required at some point in the future for yourself or for a spouse.
Leisure Time
As you probably already know, retirement doesn’t have to slow you down! On the contrary, many seniors enjoy getting out and about and socializing with old friends and making new ones. You will find plenty of activities to keep you busy and several places where you can meet and mingle in the Thief River Falls area. One great place for seniors in the Thief River Falls area to meet is the Heritage Senior Center. For veterans, the VFW Post 2793 is always a good place to meet new friends and mingle with old ones.
State and Federal Assistance
Many local, state and federal resources and assistance programs are geared specifically at seniors. At the state level you may find the Minnesota Board on Aging to be very helpful. Many seniors also qualify for assistance from the Social Security disability or Social Security retirement program. For information, including application instructions, visit the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) disability website. To sign up for your Social Security retirement benefits, navigate to the sign up website of the SSA. . If you are a veteran, or the surviving spouse or dependent of a veteran, you may also be entitled to a number of benefits through the Veteran’s Administration. Along with well-known benefits such as pension and disability benefits, you might qualify for additional benefits you may not be familiar with, such as Veteran’s Aid and Attendance benefits. Once you reach retirement age, you will likely be automatically enrolled in the Medicare program. Although basic Medicare is free to all seniors, Medicare actually has four parts and the other three parts may come with a premium. If you have questions about a covered service or need to find a provider, the official Medicare website can help. In addition, if you need help covering the high cost of long-term care at some point you might qualify for Minnesota Medicaid for people over age 65.
Navigating the rules and procedures relating to the state and federal benefits that may be available to you can be challenging. The elder law attorneys at German Law are available to help you understand what benefits are available to you and make sure you are in a position to get approved for all the assistance available. Whether you are applying for the first time or you are appealing a denial, we can help. If you are a caregiver or loved one we can also help you petition for guardianship, if necessary, to provide you with the necessary legal authority to pursue benefits for your loved one.
Contact Us
Our experienced, compassionate, and caring team of elder law attorneys and staff are dedicated to helping our senior population and the people who care for them with legal issues and concerns, such as the need to coordinate retirement planning with your existing estate plan, asset protection, Medicaid planning, and incapacity planning. Our experienced elder law attorneys are also available to assist you with other areas typically of concern to seniors and those who care for them, such as incapacity planning, asset protection and incorporating your retirement plans into your estate plan. If you have additional questions or concerns about any of these elder law issues, contact the experienced Thief River Falls, Minnesota elder law attorneys at German Law by calling 701-738-0060 to schedule an appointment.
