If a family member needs care in a nursing home, you may be surprised by the cost. In our community, the cost of placement even for routine custodial care averages approximately $7,500 per month for a semi-private room and approximately $8,500 per month for a private room. Most families cannot afford this expense without impoverishing the at-home spouse or other family members. Families in this crisis situation often call our firm for help. The good news is that, with proper planning, many middle income families can actually qualify for government assistance under the Medi-Cal program. The further good news is that qualification is often possible even where the family has been told that they have too much in the way of assets to meet the eligibility rules. See this article published in the Castro Valley Forum.