If you or one of your family members is in a Nursing Home, are you aware of changes coming to the personal needs allowance? In most cases, the remaining income of nursing home residents go toward their share of the cost of care under the Medicaid program. But Governor Ron DeSantis, as part of his line-item vetos to cut $510.9 million from the State Budget, increased the monthly personal needs allowance for seniors that are residing in Nursing Homes in the state of Florida.
This is good news for seniors as this will help improve their general quality of life by allowing them more in their budget. As part of their allowance, seniors are able to purchase a variety of items considered part of “personal care”. These items include toilet paper, soap, shampoo, conditioner, and toothpaste, as well as makeup, robes, slippers, and even hearing aids!
How much is the Personal Needs Allowance now?
The allowance will rise to $160 per month, in total. Although it may not seem like very much, in the past it had only been $35 per month, a much more meager number. This should help greatly when it comes to making seniors feel more accommodated in their living spaces within their Nursing Homes.
Thank you to Governor DeSantis for signing this into law as part of the approved State Budget!
The experienced team of attorneys here at Hemness Faller, The Law Office formerly known as Emma Hemness, P.A., are here for you and your family and we want to be YOUR estate planning and elder law attorneys. After all, we are ordinary people, providing extraordinary guidance backed by years of experience and advocacy for the vulnerable citizens in our community. We encourage you to contact us and schedule a meeting.
