Assisted living can offer residents more independence and a less institutionalized setting than in traditional nursing homes, making them more popular with Wisconsin seniors.
Another difference? Fewer protections for Medicaid recipients.
Federal law bans nursing homes from ousting residents for reasons related to a Medicaid transition — if the facility accepted Medicaid when they moved in. That’s not the case in assisted living.
Families should consult a lawyer if a facility asks them to sign a contract conditioning Medicaid acceptance on a certain amount of private spending, said Eric Carlson, an attorney and director of long-term services and support advocacy with the legal nonprofit Justice in Aging.
