by Timothy Alley

A person’s home is usually that one assets that gives them comfort and security. Protecting that home as we get older becomes more and more important. Protecting the home from the cost of long term care can be done in a number of ways. However, Ohio provided specific protection for a home to be protected for 5 types of individuals:

1 – A spouse living in the home. As long as a spouse is living in the home, that is protected for that spouse.

2 – A caregiver child. This must be a child of the person needing long term care. That child must have been providing care for at least 2 years prior to the time an individual enters a nursing home, and the care provided must have been sufficient to keep that individual out of a nursing home. 3 – A disabled child. Any individual that is caring for a disabled child and then needs long term care can rest assured that the home will be protected for that disabled child.

4 – A child under age 18. If an individual needs long term care and still has children at home under the age of 18, the home will be protected for those children.

5 – A sibling with an equity interest in the home. The sibling must have an equity interest in the home and must be living in the home for at least one year prior to the time long term care is needed.

Each of these protections are available but they must be affirmatively requested, and there are requirements involved in claiming any of these protections. If you have questions about these options and want to learn how they or other options may apply to your situation, please contact our office by phone (419-872-7670) or through our website (www.chamberlain-law.net ) and schedule a time to meet with Tim Alley.