What is the Difference Between Custodial and Skilled Care?

Does your loved one need to develop a Medicaid plan sooner rather than later? If your family member needs long term care, this is something you can discuss with an elder lawyer to determine your next steps.

Healthcare plans and the medical community use a variety of different terms to explain issues in long term care. Skilled care and custodial care are two very common examples.

These are most often referenced by the Veteran’s Administration, Medicaid, Medicare, and insurance plans, but volunteers and health care professionals might also know these. The use of these terms is very important in determining whether or not an existing health care plan will pay for services.

Skilled services refer to those that are paid for by a health care plan in a general sense and custodial services are typically not covered. Skilled care refers to the provision of supplies and services that can only begin under the supervision of licensed medical personnel or skilled medical personnel.

Custodial care, on the other hand, refers to the provision of supplies and services that can be given reasonably and safely by people who are neither licensed nor skilled as medical personnel. The development of a treatment plan is important for a person who needs long term care assistance. The treatment plan should include:

• The frequency of treatment.
• The development of therapeutic goals.
• The specific therapies that will be used.
• The timeframe in which the physician will review the case for the purposes of re-evaluating it.
• The individuals involved in the process.

If you are curious about developing your own long-term care plan, schedule a consultation with an elder law attorney in Massachusetts today.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a qualified attorney.

About Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP

Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP is the CEO and Founding Partner of O'Connell Law, an estate planning and elder law firm serving clients across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. She is one of a select group of attorneys in Massachusetts certified by the National Elder Law Foundation as a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA). Tiffany focuses her practice on estate planning, trust and probate administration, Medicaid planning, long-term care planning, Alzheimer's planning, charitable planning, and retirement and wealth strategies. She has been helping families plan for their futures since opening her practice in 2010.

Credentials: JD, LLM, CELA (Certified Elder Law Attorney — National Elder Law Foundation), AEP (Accredited Estate Planner)

Licensed in: Massachusetts

Areas of Practice: Estate Planning, Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, Probate & Trust Administration, Alzheimer's Planning, Asset Protection

View all posts by Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP →

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a qualified attorney.