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Always Put Caregiver Contracts in Writing

Posted by Aubrey Carew Sizer | Nov 10, 2020

When hiring a caregiver, it is important to put the contract in writing. Courts can be especially strict about requiring contracts when caregivers are relatives, but a formal agreement is still necessary even if the caregiver is not a relative.  A recent Michigan court ruling illustrates how failing to document an agreement with a non-relative caregiver can affect Medicaid benefits.

Jason Jensen hired a caregiver for his grandmother, Betty Jensen, who suffered from dementia. Mr. Jensen and the caregiver had an informal agreement and no contract was signed, but Mr. Jensen paid the caregiver a total of $19,000 from Ms. Jensen's assets over the course of the months she worked for Ms. Jensen.

When Ms. Jensen's condition worsened, she entered a nursing home and applied for Medicaid. Because there was no written contract in place, the state considered the payments to the caregiver to be transfers that were made for less than fair market value. Due to the transfers, the state established a penalty period before Ms. Jensen could qualify for Medicaid. Ms. Jensen died before the penalty period ended.

Mr. Jensen appealed the state's decision to court, and the trial court decided in his favor, ruling that the state Medicaid regulation requiring that a caregiver contract be in writing applied only to relative caregivers. The state appealed this ruling.

The Michigan Court of Appeals reversed the trial court's decision, stating that it was bound by the regulations, which require that caregiver contracts be in writing, even for a non-relative. According to the court, because there was no written contract, the payments to the caregiver were unlawful. To read the court's decision, click here.  

If you are hiring a caregiver, even for a few hours a week, it is important to draw up a formal agreement, especially if you think you may ever need to apply for Medicaid long-term care benefits. If you need help drafting an agreement, please reach out to us, we'd love to help so that your loved one and the caregiver are protected.  If you are a family caregiver in the state of Virginia, the Virginia Caregiver Coalition (VCC) offers a free membership with a completed application that offers support through meetings. Find out more at vda.virginia.gov/familycaregiversupport.htm 

About the Author

Aubrey Carew Sizer

Aubrey Carew Sizer, Esquire, is the Principal Attorney of The Law Office of Aubrey Carew Sizer PLLC, a Northern Virginia law firm providing representation for Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning, Long-Term Care Planning, Guardianship and Conservatorship, Special Needs Planning for the Disabled, and Probate, Estate and Trust Administration.

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The Law Office of Aubrey Carew Sizer PLLC provides customized and affordable estate planning (including wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, and advance medical directives); elder law services (including long-term care planning, special needs planning for the disabled, and guardianships and conservatorships); probate, estate and trust administration (including advising executors and administrators of estates about post-mortem planning and the local probate process in Virginia), as well as general aging and disability advice in Northern Virginia, including but not limited to Arlington, Alexandria, Ashburn, Bristow, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Gainesville, Fairfax, Falls Church, Haymarket, Herndon, Leesburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, Reston, Springfield, Sterling, and throughout Loudoun, Prince William, and Fairfax counties.

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