When Your Loved One Requires Long-Term Care: A Guide for Connecticut Families

By Attorney Evelina M. Ruszkowski

Few moments in life feel as overwhelming as realizing someone you love needs long-term care. Whether it’s your parent, spouse, or another family member, this transition brings difficult questions about care options, financial concerns, and legal planning that many families aren’t prepared to answer. Understanding your options and planning proactively can transform this challenging time into an opportunity to ensure your loved one receives quality care while protecting family assets. 

The Reality of Long-Term Care Costs 

Long-term care expenses represent one of the most significant financial challenges facing American families today. According to the 2024 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, the costs have continued rising faster than inflation across all care types, creating an urgent need for families to plan ahead. 

The current landscape of long-term care costs includes: 

Nursing Home Care: A private room in a skilled nursing facility now costs an annual median of $127,750 nationally, while a semi-private room averages $111,325 per year. These costs represent increases of 9% and 7% respectively from 2023, significantly outpacing general inflation rates. 

Assisted Living: The annual median cost jumped 10% in 2024 to $70,800, reflecting both increased demand and higher operational costs for these communities. 

In-Home Care: Home health aide services cost approximately $77,792 annually, while homemaker services increased 10% in 2024. The national average hourly rate for in-home care now ranges between $33 and $34. 

For Connecticut families, these national averages often represent the floor rather than the ceiling. Connecticut’s higher cost of living typically translates to even higher long-term care expenses, making proactive planning even more critical for families in eastern and central Connecticut. 

Understanding Who Needs Long-Term Care 

The demand for long-term care services continues growing as America’s population ages. Projections indicate that the number of Americans aged 65 and older will increase from 58 million in 2022 to approximately 82 million by 2050. For Connecticut families, this demographic shift has immediate implications. 

While many people associate long-term care exclusively with advanced age, the reality is more nuanced. Approximately 1 in 5 Americans turning 65 will face more than $200,000 in long-term care costs during their lifetime. Nearly 1 in 4 older adults receive paid long-term care for more than two years, while 40% only need it for two years or less. 

Long-term care becomes necessary when someone needs assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and transferring, or with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) like managing medications, preparing meals, handling finances, and shopping. These needs can arise from various conditions including chronic illnesses like heart disease or diabetes, cognitive decline from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, stroke recovery, Parkinson’s disease, or mobility limitations from arthritis or injury. 

Navigating Connecticut’s Medicaid System 

In Connecticut, Medicaid – known as HUSKY Health – provides critical coverage for long-term care services for eligible residents. However, qualifying for Medicaid requires meeting specific financial and medical criteria that can seem daunting without proper guidance. 

Connecticut Medicaid Eligibility Requirements for 2025 

For nursing home Medicaid in Connecticut, single applicants must have countable assets below $1,600, while their income cannot exceed the cost of nursing home care. Countable assets include bank accounts, retirement accounts, stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit, and real estate other than the primary residence (with certain conditions). 

For married couples where only one spouse requires nursing home care, Connecticut’s spousal impoverishment protections allow the community spouse (the spouse remaining at home) to retain up to $157,920 in assets for 2025 through the Community Spouse Resource Allowance. The community spouse’s income is not counted toward eligibility, and they may also receive an income allowance from the applicant spouse of up to $3,948 per month to ensure they can continue living independently. 

Certain assets are exempt from Medicaid’s asset limits, including personal belongings, household furnishings, one automobile, a burial plot, an irrevocable prepaid funeral contract limited to $10,000 in 2025, term life insurance with no cash surrender value, and generally the primary home (subject to equity limits and other conditions). 

The Five-Year Look-Back Period 

One of the most critical aspects of Medicaid planning is understanding the look-back period. Connecticut enforces a 60-month (five-year) look-back period for nursing home Medicaid and certain home care waivers. During this period, Medicaid reviews all financial transactions to identify any assets that were gifted or sold for less than fair market value. 

If prohibited transfers are discovered during the look-back period, Medicaid will impose a penalty period of ineligibility. The length of this penalty depends on the total value of assets transferred and Connecticut’s current monthly penalty divisor. This is why planning ahead—ideally well before long-term care is needed—is so important for protecting family assets while ensuring Medicaid eligibility. 

Medicare vs. Medicaid: Understanding the Difference 

Many families mistakenly believe Medicare will cover long-term nursing home care. Understanding the limitations of Medicare coverage is essential for proper planning. 

Medicare Part A provides limited coverage for skilled nursing facility care, but only under specific conditions. To qualify, you must have a qualifying hospital stay of at least three consecutive inpatient days, enter a Medicare-certified skilled nursing facility within 30 days of hospital discharge, and require daily skilled care such as wound treatment, rehabilitation, or IV therapy. 

Even when these conditions are met, Medicare’s coverage is time-limited. For 2025, Medicare covers days 1-20 fully with no cost to the beneficiary. For days 21-100, beneficiaries must pay $209.50 per day. After 100 days, Medicare coverage ends entirely, leaving families responsible for the full cost of care—which is why Medicaid planning becomes essential for long-term needs.  

Essential Steps for Long-Term Care Planning 

Start Planning Early 

The most important step in long-term care planning is starting early—ideally before care is needed. Because of Connecticut’s five-year look-back period, strategies implemented today may not provide Medicaid protection for five years. Waiting until a crisis occurs dramatically limits your options and may result in unnecessary asset depletion. 

Understand Your Current Financial Picture 

Comprehensive long-term care planning begins with a clear understanding of your family’s financial situation. This includes documenting all assets, income sources, existing insurance policies, retirement accounts, real estate holdings, and anticipated expenses. This inventory forms the foundation for developing an effective strategy. 

Explore All Care Options 

Long-term care doesn’t automatically mean nursing home placement. Connecticut offers various options including in-home care through the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE), adult day care services, assisted living communities, and skilled nursing facilities. Each option has different costs and Medicaid coverage rules. Understanding which level of care is medically necessary and which settings might be appropriate helps families make informed decisions. 

Implement Proper Legal Strategies 

Proper legal planning can protect assets while ensuring Medicaid eligibility when long-term care becomes necessary. Strategies may include establishing irrevocable trusts, implementing spousal protection techniques, converting countable assets to exempt assets, purchasing exempt assets like prepaid funeral contracts, utilizing caregiver agreements, and in some cases, purchasing or maintaining long-term care insurance, particularly Connecticut Partnership policies that provide additional asset protection. 

Each family’s situation is unique, and strategies that work well for one family may not be appropriate for another. Working with an experienced elder law attorney who understands Connecticut’s specific Medicaid rules ensures you implement the right strategies for your circumstances. 

Ensure Proper Documentation 

Medicaid applications require extensive documentation. Having the right documents organized in advance streamlines the application process and reduces delays. Essential documents typically include proof of identity (birth certificate, driver’s license, passport), Social Security cards for all household members, proof of Connecticut residency, bank statements for all accounts for the past five years, documentation of all income sources, deeds to real property, vehicle titles, insurance policies, investment account statements, and documentation of any asset transfers made in the past five years. 

The Emotional Side of Long-Term Care Planning 

While this article focuses largely on the financial and legal aspects of long-term care planning, it’s important to acknowledge the emotional challenges families face. Recognizing that a loved one needs care often brings feelings of grief, guilt, worry, and overwhelm. These emotions are normal and valid. 

Many adult children struggle with role reversal as they begin making decisions for parents who once cared for them. Spouses face the pain of seeing their partner’s decline while worrying about their own future. These emotional challenges can make the practical planning even more difficult. 

This is where working with experienced professionals provides more than just legal guidance. A knowledgeable elder law attorney understands not only Connecticut’s Medicaid rules but also the emotional journey families experience. They can provide reassurance, explain options clearly, and help families make decisions that provide both financial security and peace of mind. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid 

Understanding what not to do is as important as knowing the right steps to take. Common mistakes that can jeopardize Medicaid eligibility or unnecessarily deplete assets include: 

Waiting Until Crisis: Starting planning only after long-term care becomes immediately necessary severely limits options and may result in unnecessary asset loss. 

Gifting Assets Without Professional Guidance: Transferring assets to children or other family members without understanding Medicaid’s look-back rules can create lengthy periods of ineligibility. 

Adding Children’s Names to Assets: Adding children as joint owners on bank accounts or property deeds creates risks including exposure to children’s creditors, loss of control over assets, and potential Medicaid complications. 

Assuming Medicare Will Cover Long-Term Care: Relying on Medicare for long-term nursing home coverage leads to surprise when families discover Medicare’s limited skilled nursing coverage ends after 100 days. 

Neglecting Spousal Protection: Married couples who fail to utilize spousal impoverishment protections may unnecessarily impoverish the community spouse. 

Attempting DIY Medicaid Planning: Connecticut’s Medicaid rules are complex and change frequently. Attempting to navigate the system without professional guidance often results in denied applications, unnecessary asset loss, or penalty periods of ineligibility. 

Taking Action: Creating Your Long-Term Care Plan 

If you’re reading this article, you’re already taking an important first step—educating yourself about long-term care planning. The next steps involve turning knowledge into action by creating a comprehensive plan tailored to your family’s unique situation. 

Consider these action steps: 

• Schedule a family conversation about long-term care needs and wishes, including care preferences and financial concerns 
• Gather documentation of assets, income, and existing insurance coverage 
• Research care options available in your Connecticut community 
• Consult with an experienced elder law attorney who specializes in Connecticut Medicaid planning 
• Review and update estate planning documents including powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and wills 
• Implement recommended planning strategies while respecting the five-year look-back period 
• Schedule regular reviews of your plan as circumstances change 

Long-term care planning isn’t just about protecting assets. It’s about ensuring your loved one receives quality care while preserving financial security for the entire family. With proper planning, Connecticut families can navigate this challenging time with confidence, knowing they’ve taken the right steps to protect both their loved one’s care needs and their family’s financial future. 

Facing long-term care decisions for a loved one? Our experienced elder law team provides comprehensive guidance on Medicaid planning, asset protection, and care options throughout eastern and central Connecticut. With Attorney Patrick Prue‘s more than 20 years of experience as a probate judge and our firm’s specialized knowledge in Title XIX (Medicaid) planning, we help families navigate Connecticut’s complex system with confidence. Contact The Prue Law Group today at (860) 423-9231 to schedule a consultation and discover how proper planning can protect both your loved one’s care and your family’s financial security. 

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Sources: 

Genworth and CareScout. “2024 Cost of Care Survey.” February 2024. https://www.genworth.com/aging-and-you/finances/cost-of-care.html  

SingleCare. “Long-term care statistics 2025.” August 7, 2025. https://www.singlecare.com/blog/news/long-term-care-statistics/   

Medicaid Planning Assistance. “Connecticut Medicaid Eligibility: 2025 Income & Asset Limits.” https://www.medicaidplanningassistance.org/medicaid-eligibility-connecticut/  

Connecticut Department of Social Services. “HUSKY Health Long Term Care Programs.” https://www.medicaidlongtermcare.org/eligibility/connecticut/  

Reed, Wilson & Case, LLC. “Does Medicare Cover Nursing Home Costs in Connecticut? (2025 Update).” May 1, 2025. https://reedwilsoncase.com/does-medicare-cover-nursing-home-costs-in-connecticut-2025-update/  

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. “Partnership Consumer Government Programs.” https://portal.ct.gov/OPM/PDPD-HHS-Long-Term-Care/Consumer/Partnership-Consumer-Government-Programs  

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The Prue Law Group has served eastern and central Connecticut since 1980, providing comprehensive business law, estate planning, probate, and elder law services. Our team’s deep local knowledge and specialized expertise help business owners protect what matters most. AI may have been used for the initial research and drafting of the article. This content is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, please contact our office for a consultation.