Long-Term Care Planning in Randolph

Start with the care decision—not just the cost

Planning is more than estimating how care might be paid for. Consider what matters to you if you need help with daily activities or more ongoing support: your preferences about care, who you would want involved, and what information that person would need to help coordinate decisions.

Compare the options you are considering by setting out the care preference, who would make or support decisions, the resources you know about, and the questions that remain. This makes it easier to spot gaps—for example, a named helper without access to useful information, or a financial assumption that has not been checked.

Make a one-page care and resources summary

Before a planning conversation, prepare a one-page summary you can update. Keep facts separate from estimates or questions so that an assumption is not mistaken for a confirmed resource.

• Care preferences and concerns, including what you would want a decision-maker to understand.
• People you may want involved, and any existing healthcare or financial decision-making documents.
• Known insurance information, income or assets relevant to care planning, and where supporting records can be found.
• Unanswered questions about care options, costs, access to information, or possible public-program rules.

Check who has authority—and for what

A financial power of attorney authorizes another person to act on someone’s behalf, but its scope, duration, and limits matter. It is not interchangeable with a healthcare decision document, a trust, or a court-appointed guardian or conservator. Identify each document and role rather than assuming one person can take every action.

Tennessee’s Advance Directive for Health Care form addresses an agent and alternate as well as healthcare preferences, and includes instructions about signing and sharing copies. Review how your existing documents fit together and what information the people you choose may need. Questions about execution or legal effect should be addressed in the context of your circumstances.

Treat TennCare as a question to evaluate

Tennessee’s CHOICES program is a long-term-services-and-supports program. Both medical and financial requirements apply, so neither care needs nor a financial estimate alone establishes eligibility. If public assistance may be relevant, identify the information that would need to be reviewed and ask how it affects your broader plan. Do not build a care decision around an assumption of eligibility or funding.

Questions to bring to a planning discussion

Bring your summary and ask: Do my healthcare preferences and financial decision-making arrangements address different responsibilities clearly? What information is still missing to assess insurance, resources, or a possible CHOICES inquiry? Who should be able to locate the documents and records needed to coordinate care? Dale Law Group, PLLC can discuss long-term care planning and related Medicaid planning for Tennessee clients.