Below are 5 things to look out for when signing a Nursing Home Agreement.

1.Responsible Party Contract.By law, your parent is the only person responsible for any bills from a care facility. Some facilities, try to get an adult child and/ or another relative or friend to sign on as a “responsible party.”Look for this term and ask for it to be removed from the contract. Many facilities have a separate agreement that you would sign so make sure you do not sign it!

2.Government Aid. Most facilities do accept Medicare or Medicaid but the contract should explicitly state whether the facility takes either or both. It’s illegal for a facility that participates in these programs to force your parent to pay privately for a period of time before accepting her as a Medicare or Medicaid resident. Medicare has strict guidelines on who receives those benefits for a nursing home stay.

3.Deposits.Deposits can only be required of privately paying residents. Residents using Medicare or Medicaid can’t be required to pay a deposit.

4.Personal Property Inventory Checklist. The agreement should list what your parent or loved one is bringing into the facility. make sure you add everything! The nursing home will be cleaning their room and doing laundry. It’s better to be on the safe side.

5.Discharge Notification. Make sure the contract states how much notice your parent must give before leaving, and how long the facility will save her spot if she needs temporary hospitalization.