At Elder Law Guidance, we help families in Richmond and Madison County understand how to plan early, qualify for Medicaid, and preserve assets before care costs spiral out of control. Our goal is to give you clear options and lasting peace of mind, without pressure or confusion.
According to Unbiased (2024), the average cost of a nursing home in Kentucky is about $7,770 per month for a semi-private room. Private rooms average $8,900 per month, while assisted living costs around $4,335 monthly, according to PayingForSeniorCare (2024).
These numbers make it clear why early planning matters. Without a strategy, a single year of care can consume nearly all of a family’s savings.
Since 2015, Elder Law Guidance has guided Kentucky families through long-term care and Medicaid planning with an education-first approach grounded in compassion, clarity, and teamwork. Our team helps you prepare for care, protect your home, and make sure your family stays in control of life decisions, not the system.
What Is Long-Term Care Planning and Why It Matters in Richmond
Long-term care planning means preparing for the medical, financial, and legal realities of aging before a crisis occurs. It allows families to manage rising care costs, qualify for Medicaid when necessary, and protect assets such as the family home.
Long-term care planning also helps families avoid unnecessary court involvement.
In Madison County, disputes over guardianship or elder care often fall under the Madison County Circuit Court, while unresolved facility complaints are handled through the Kentucky Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. Understanding how these systems work allows families to make informed decisions instead of reacting in a crisis.
For many families in Richmond, planning starts with learning. Through our education-first workshop, we explain how tools such as irrevocable trusts, Medicaid asset transfers, and care coordination can keep your loved one’s future secure. With the right plan, you can stay independent longer and protect what you’ve built.
Our Long-Term Care Services in Madison County
Our long-term care planning services in Richmond and Madison County include:
- Medicaid planning
- Asset protection
- Estate planning coordination
- Guardianship and conservatorship
- Long-term care coordination
- Veterans’ benefits assistance
- Crisis (last-minute) Medicaid planning
- Nursing home and assisted living planning
- Power of attorney and healthcare directive setup
- Financial and care plan reviews
Get Trusted Legal Support Today
For straightforward legal advice and representation, contact Elder Law Guidance. Call (859) 544-6012 to schedule your consultation.
Why Work With Elder Law Guidance
At our firm, we walk beside families through some of life’s most important transitions.
- Deep Roots in Service & Community
Founded in 2015, our firm was built on a foundation of military service, ministry, and community work, values that shape our compassionate and integrity-driven approach to every case. - Experience That Truly Understands Families
With backgrounds in conflict management, family support, and end-of-life care, our team brings empathy, patience, and understanding to every situation. - Educators at Heart
We believe knowledge is power. Our attorneys explain the law in clear, relatable terms so you can make confident, informed decisions for your loved ones. - Commitment to Preserving Wealth & Legacy
We help families protect what they’ve worked for, making sure assets are protected and legacies are passed on, not lost to unnecessary costs or conflict. - Compassionate, Bridge-Building Approach
Our philosophy is to resolve challenges with dignity and respect. We focus on people and relationships, not just legal outcomes. - A Workplace That Reflects Our Values
We’ve created an environment where both clients and staff feel seen, supported, and valued, because true care starts within.
About Elder Law Guidance: Your Trusted Partners
Since 2015, Elder Law Guidance has helped families in Richmond, Berea, and across Madison County protect their independence and life savings through thoughtful long-term care and Medicaid planning. Our mission is to help clients stay in control of their care, their home, and their future for as long as possible.
We take an education-first approach, beginning with free consultations and live educational webinars where families learn how to prepare for nursing home and assisted living costs before a crisis occurs. Every conversation focuses on clarity, options, and peace of mind.
Our firm’s team-based model goes beyond legal documents. With professionals experienced in social work, family support, and conflict management, we integrate care coordination, family dynamics, and emotional support into every plan.
We are proud members of the Kentucky Bar Association and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Our work is guided by years of experience, a deep understanding of Kentucky’s Medicaid and long-term care laws, and a lasting commitment to plain-English, compassionate guidance that helps families plan with confidence.
How Medicaid Planning Works in Kentucky
Medicaid planning helps families prepare for long-term care costs without losing everything they’ve worked for. The goal is to qualify for benefits under Kentucky’s Medicaid rules while preserving assets for a healthy spouse or future generations.
According to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (2024), an individual applying for long-term care Medicaid must have less than $2,000 in countable assets, while a spouse at home can typically keep between $30,000 and $148,000, depending on total household assets.
The five-year lookback rule is another key factor. Under Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 205, Medicaid reviews all financial transfers made within five years before the application date. Improper gifts or transfers during that period can cause a penalty, delaying eligibility for months or years.
Properly structured trusts and allowable spend-down strategies can prevent these problems.
Families can also seek advocacy support through the Kentucky Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which helps resolve care-related complaints in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
At Elder Law Guidance, we create clear, compliant Medicaid strategies that protect family assets, coordinate with healthcare providers such as Baptist Health Richmond, and confirm eligibility without unnecessary stress.
Our Richmond Long-Term Care Planning Process
No matter when you begin, our process is designed to ease worry, clarify options, and move you step-by-step toward lasting peace of mind.
Step 1: Free Consultation
Your journey starts with a complimentary consultation, either at our Richmond office or virtually by phone or Zoom. It’s an open, no-pressure conversation where you can share your situation, ask questions, and learn how we can help.
Step 2: Personalized Planning Session
Next, you’ll meet with an attorney for a focused strategy session. Together, we’ll review long-term care needs, Medicaid eligibility timelines, available VA disability or pension benefits, and your best options for wills, trusts, and caregiver support.
Step 3: Drafting & Signing Your Plan
We then create personalized legal documents, including wills and trusts to powers of attorney and guardianship papers, all tailored to your goals and family circumstances. Our clients often tell us the experience feels more like a family discussion than a legal meeting.
Step 4: Asset Alignment & Tax Coordination
Once your plan is complete, we assist with the practical steps, like updating account titles, transferring assets to trusts, and coordinating with financial or tax professionals.
Step 5: Benefit Applications
When applying for Medicaid or VA benefits, our team manages the paperwork and tracks every deadline. While VA decisions can take several months, we handle documentation and evidence so your claim stays on track and avoid delays.
Step 6: Ongoing Guidance & Education
We offer an annual maintenance plan with regular check-ins and caregiver coordination. We also host free monthly webinars on key topics, such as Medicaid look-back periods, VA evidence standards, and the differences between revocable and irrevocable trusts. Each participant receives a recording to share with loved ones.
Protecting Your Home and Assets from Long-Term Care Costs
One of the biggest fears families face is losing the family home or life savings to nursing home costs. Without a plan, that fear often becomes reality. At Elder Law Guidance, we help Richmond families use proven, legal strategies to protect assets while qualifying for Medicaid.
Under Kentucky Medicaid rules and KRS Chapter 205, the home is generally an exempt asset while the owner is alive and living there or when a spouse remains in the home. However, after death, the state can seek repayment through estate recovery unless protections are in place.
An irrevocable trust is one of the strongest tools for protection. When created and funded early enough, it can remove assets from your name while maintaining control through a trustee. This is especially effective when started five years before Medicaid eligibility, due to the federal lookback rule.
We also guide families through spousal protection planning, which allows the healthy spouse to retain a portion of assets and income under Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) limits.
By combining trusts, exempt asset strategies, and careful timing, families in Richmond and Madison County can preserve what they’ve earned while still qualifying for the care they need.
Local Resources We Work With in Richmond
- Madison County Medicaid Office
- Madison County Circuit Court
- Kentucky Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
- Department for Aging and Independent Living (DAIL)
- Baptist Health Richmond
- St. Andrews Retirement Community
- Arcadian Cove Senior Living
- Richmond Chamber of Commerce
Schedule an Online Consultation
Long-term care planning starts with a simple conversation. Whether you live in Richmond, Berea, or anywhere in Madison County, you can meet with Elder Law Guidance in the way that’s most comfortable for you.
We offer in-person, virtual, and home or hospital consultations, giving you complete flexibility and peace of mind.
Begin with a free consultation or educational webinar to learn how wills, trusts, and powers of attorney work under Kentucky law. Our webinars are designed to help you understand your options clearly before making any decisions, and when you attend, your initial consultation fee is waived.
Schedule your session through our website or contact our friendly intake team to reserve an appointment that fits your schedule. Our goal is to make planning easy, accessible, and stress-free from the very first meeting.
