Dispute Between Brothers Demonstrates Need to Plan for Long-Term Care

A recent New Jersey appeals court case demonstrates how important it is for families to come up with a long-term care plan before an emergency strikes. The case involves two brothers who got into a fight over whether to place their mother in a nursing home – a dispute that resulted in one brother filing a restraining order against the other.

R.G. was the primary caregiver for his parents and their agent under powers of attorney. After R.G.'s mother fell ill, R.G. wanted to place his mother in a nursing home. R.G.'s brother objected to this plan, but R.G. went ahead and had his mother admitted to a nursing home without his brother's consent. R.G.'s brother sent angry and threatening texts and emails to R.G. as well as emails expressing his desire to find a way to care for their parents in their home. Eventually the men got into a physical altercation in which R.G.'s brother shoved R.G.

R.G. went to court to get a restraining order against his brother under the state’s Prevention of Domestic Violence Act. The trial judge ruled that R.G. had been harassed and assaulted and issued the restraining order. R.G.'s brother appealed, arguing that R.G. did not meet the definition of a victim of domestic violence.

In R.G. v. R.G. (N.J. Super. Ct., App. Div., No. A-0945-15T3, March 14, 2017), a New Jersey appeals court reversed the trial court, ruling that R.G.'s brother's actions did not amount to domestic violence. According to the court, there was insufficient evidence that R.G.'s brother purposely acted to harass R.G., ruling that "a mere expression of anger between persons in a requisite relationship is not an act of harassment."

If the brothers had sat down with their parents before they needed care to explore options and determine their parents' wishes, this drawn-out and costly dispute might have been totally avoided. Putting a long-term care plan into place can help avoid family conflicts like this one.

To start planning for long-term care, talk to your elder law attorney, who can help you devise the best plan for you.

Short-Term Care Insurance: An Alternative to the Long-Term Care Variety

A little-known insurance option can be an answer for some people who might need care but are unable to buy long-term care insurance. Short-term care insurance provides coverage for nursing home or home care for one year or less.

As long-term care premiums rise, short-term care insurance is gaining in popularity. This type of insurance is generally cheaper than its long-term care counterpart because it covers less time. Purchasers can choose the length of coverage they want, up to one year. According to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance a typical premium for a 65-year-old is $105 a month.

People who can't qualify for long-term care insurance because of health reasons may be able to qualify for short-term care coverage. This kind of insurance doesn't usually require a medical exam and sometimes only has a few medical questions on the application. Another benefit of short-term care insurance is that there usually is not a deductible. The policies begin paying immediately, without the waiting period usually found in long-term care policies.

Short-term care policies are not the answer for everyone. They may not cover all the levels of care that a long-term care policy would cover. As with any insurance product, buyers need to make sure that they understand what coverage they are purchasing.  And these policies are not regulated to the same extent that long-term care insurance policies are, so there are fewer consumer protections.

Short-term care policies may be beneficial for individuals who waited too long to purchase long-term care insurance (short-term care can typically be purchased up to age 89). They can also help fill gaps in Medicare coverage or cover the deductible period before long-term care insurance begins paying. The policies may also be appealing to single women because there is no price difference for women and men, as there is for long-term care insurance.