When the Money Runs Out

What actually happens when a parent can no longer afford care - and what you can do before you’re forced into quick decisions.

Most families don’t understand how this works until they’re already under pressure.

This guide walks you through what really happens when savings run out - whether your parent is at home or in assisted living - so you’re not caught off guard.

Inside:

✔ What happens when private pay runs out

✔ Why Medicaid doesn’t just "kick in" and why timing matters

✔ The 5-year lookback explained in plain English

✔ VA benefits many families never realize they qualify for

✔ The first steps to take before funds get low

Based on 25 years working inside senior living communities and helping families navigate these transitions.

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What happens before the money runs out often matters most

Most families don’t start asking questions until they look at the numbers and realize the current plan won’t last forever.

They see the monthly cost, what’s left in savings, and begin asking what comes next.

What happens later is shaped by the decisions made before the money runs out.

Why this guide exists

I spent 25 years inside senior living communities - managing them, overseeing care transitions, and guiding families when their funds ran low.

I’ve seen how the system works from the inside - and I’ve seen the difference preparation makes.

It isn’t always about how much a family has.

It’s about whether they understand how funding transitions actually work before they’re facing them.

This guide was written for that reason.

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What this guide walks you through

1. What Most Families Believe About Paying for Care
Common assumptions about private pay and Medicaid - and where those assumptions create risk.

2. When Your Parent Is Still at Home and Funds Are Tight
How home-based Medicaid programs work and how to evaluate options before savings are depleted.

3. When Funding Changes in Assisted Living
How transitions are handled and how timing affects placement options.

4. How Medicaid Works for Long-Term Care
Eligibility rules, program differences, and realistic timelines.

5. The Five-Year Lookback
What is reviewed, what creates penalties, and what does not.

6. Timing and Financial Decisions
Why waiting until every dollar is gone reduces flexibility.

7. Lesser-Known Medicaid Pathways
How you can still qualify even when monthly income is over the limit.

8. VA Benefits
Aid and Attendance basics and how to determine if it applies.

9. Where to Start
Which professionals to consult and how to determine your next step.

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This guide is for you if:

Your parent is in assisted living and you’re unsure how long funds will last
Care costs at home are increasing
You want to understand Medicaid before it becomes time-sensitive
The five-year lookback feels unclear
Your parent is a veteran or surviving spouse and you’re evaluating benefits

In long-term care, timing matters.

The earlier you understand your options, the more of them you have.

About Christen

I’m Christen Bergeron, founder of Navigating Senior Living.

I spent over 20 years working inside senior living companies. I saw how decisions were made. And I saw how often families were caught off guard when the money started running low.

Not because they weren’t paying attention - but because no one had explained how it actually works.

I wrote this guide so you don’t have to piece it together in a moment of stress.

And if you end up needing more help than a guide can give, I’m here.

- Christen

When the Money Runs Out - PDF Guide

$37

✔ Plain-language explanation of how long-term care funding works

✔ What happens when private pay runs out

✔ Medicaid eligibility and the five-year lookback explained clearly

✔ Lesser-known Medicaid pathways and VA benefit overview

✔ Guidance on next steps and which professionals to consult