When a Parent Needs Care, the Clock Matters.
How do you pay for long-term care without losing everything your parents spent a lifetime building? Who decides, when they no longer can? I'm Shlomo Himmel — attorney and former ER nurse. I help New Jersey families answer these questions with clear plans, not panic. And if you're researching this for a parent, this is also the moment most people realize they have no plan of their own — we can fix both.
The Cost of Not Planning.
per month for a private nursing home room in NJ
Medicaid asset limit for individuals in NJ
per month for assisted living in Union County
Medicaid lookback period in New Jersey
Planning That Protects Both Generations.
Medicaid Planning & Asset Protection
Lawful strategies — irrevocable trusts, spousal protections, spend-down planning, caregiver agreements — to protect assets while qualifying for benefits. The five-year lookback means the earlier we start, the more we can save.
Long-Term Care Planning
From home health aides to nursing facilities, we evaluate the full range of care options and build a legal and financial plan — including veterans' benefits and long-term care insurance coordination.
Guardianship Proceedings
When a loved one is incapacitated without a power of attorney, the family may need court-appointed guardianship. I bring clinical insight to the medical evidence — and I'll tell you honestly if a less restrictive option exists.
Special Needs Planning
Supplemental needs trusts let a disabled family member benefit from your assets without losing Medicaid or SSI, plus guidance on ABLE accounts and structured settlement protections.
I've Read the Chart and the Statute.
Elder law sits at the intersection of legal planning and healthcare reality. The attorney preparing your parent's Medicaid application needs to understand what level of care they actually require. The attorney handling a guardianship needs to interpret neuropsychological evaluations. Before law school, I earned my BSN from Rutgers and worked in emergency departments at Level I trauma centers — that fluency directly strengthens every plan I build.
Hard Questions. Honest Answers.
When should we start planning for a parent's long-term care?
Before there is a crisis. The five-year lookback period means earlier planning gives you more options. But even in a crisis, planning can still make a meaningful difference — don't assume it's too late.
What is the Medicaid lookback period in New Jersey?
Medicaid reviews all financial transactions made within the 60 months preceding an application. Gifts or below-market transfers during that window may result in a penalty period of ineligibility.
Can I protect my home from Medicaid?
Your home is generally exempt while you're living there, but Medicaid may seek recovery from your estate. Options include irrevocable trusts, caregiver child transfers, and life estates — each with different legal and tax implications we'll walk through.
What's the difference between guardianship and power of attorney?
A power of attorney is voluntary, signed while competent — a few pages, signed in an afternoon. Guardianship is a court proceeding for someone already incapacitated: far more expensive, slower, and more restrictive. This is the single best argument for planning while everyone is healthy.
Does Medicare pay for nursing home care?
Only limited skilled nursing — typically up to 100 days after a qualifying hospital stay. It does not pay for long-term custodial care. Medicaid is the primary funding source for long-term care in New Jersey.
The Best Time to Plan Was Before the Crisis. The Second-Best Time Is Now.
Everything on this page — the five-year lookback, guardianship court, the $13,000-a-month bills — is what happens when planning starts too late. If you're watching a parent go through this, make sure your own children never do. A complete estate plan takes two to three weeks and one flat fee, quoted upfront.
Get Help With Your Family's Next Step.
Whether you're facing decisions about a parent's care, trying to understand Medicaid, or planning ahead for yourself — you'll work directly with an attorney who understands both the legal framework and the clinical realities of aging.
The Himmel Law Firm • 277 North Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ • Serving Union County & All of New Jersey