{"id":10006,"date":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeline.philips.com\/resources\/blog\/2014\/11\/preparing-for-a-lifetime-of-caregiving-for-children-with-disabilities.html"},"modified":"2023-10-19T16:53:34","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T20:53:34","slug":"preparing-for-a-lifetime-of-caregiving-for-children-with-disabilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeline.com\/blog\/preparing-for-a-lifetime-of-caregiving-for-children-with-disabilities\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing for a Lifetime of Caregiving for Children With Disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>From the time your child was diagnosed, you\u2019ve probably worried about financially supporting her, ensuring that she gets the assistance she needs, and taking care of her for the rest of her life. Raising children with disabilities requires planning \u2014 no one knows that better than you do. Can you successfully raise, care for, and plan for the future of your child, all while maintaining your caregiver health and a healthy work\/life balance? The prospect may seem impossible, but by choosing the right team to support you as you raise your child, planning for the future won\u2019t be so overwhelming.<\/p>\n<h2>Financial Preparations<\/h2>\n<p>Special needs trusts are often the best choice for families who have children with disabilities, according to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanbar.org\/groups\/senior_lawyers\/publications\/voice_of_experience\/2019\/october-2019\/some-things-to-consider-in-special-needs-trust\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Bar Association<\/a>. With certain trusts, the money held counts as an asset for the child, and having more than $2,000 in assets may prevent him from being eligible to receive Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, or other government benefits. However, in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wispact.org\/wispact-trusts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">special needs trusts<\/a>, money isn\u2019t counted toward the $2,000 limit. These trusts are typically funded by the parent\u2019s assets and may allow for the parent to seek government aid outside of the trust. Often, money can be funneled through the living trust for ongoing care costs. Even after a parent\u2019s death, the trust can be used to pay for her child\u2019s care.<\/p>\n<p>An experienced financial adviser can help you set up a trust for your child, determine how best to fund it, and set financial goals that will ensure his financial future. In addition to setting up a trust, your adviser can assist you with your will and other estate-planning topics.<\/p>\n<h2>Legal Considerations<\/h2>\n<p>In many cases, you\u2019ll need an attorney to help you establish a special needs trust. If not, you may still want to consult one for financial and guardianship provisions in your will. You\u2019ll want to find a lawyer who frequently works with families caring for children with disabilities. The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.specialneedsalliance.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Special Needs Alliance<\/a>\u00a0can help you locate a lawyer in your area who works closely with the type of legal issues you may face.<\/p>\n<p>If a child with disabilities can\u2019t support herself and live independently after she turns 18, she will need a legal guardian who can make medical, financial, and other decisions on her behalf. Your attorney will help you set up alternative legal guardianship provisions, making absolutely certain that your child\u2019s future is secure.<\/p>\n<h2>Ensuring Work\/Life Balance<\/h2>\n<p>A strong\u00a0support system\u00a0is the key to ensuring that you don\u2019t burn out. The\u00a0emotional toll\u00a0of raising a child with disabilities can be damaging to your physical, mental, and emotional health. Contact your local hospital to ask about any support groups it operates, and research programs in your community. Organizations such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/thearc.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Arc of the United States<\/a>\u00a0work actively to connect families, enhance resources, and advocate for all people with disabilities in your area.<\/p>\n<p>The legal and financial planning required to raise children with disabilities can feel overwhelming. Some of the pressure, however, can be easily relieved by enlisting the help of an experienced financial planner and lawyer. This, in combination with a strong support system, can ease your stress as a caregiver \u2014 and allow you more quality time with your child.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From the time your child was diagnosed, you\u2019ve probably worried about financially supporting her, ensuring that she gets the assistance she needs, and taking care of her for the rest of her life. Raising children with disabilities requires planning \u2014 no one knows that better than you do. Can you successfully raise, care for, and<a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lifeline.com\/blog\/preparing-for-a-lifetime-of-caregiving-for-children-with-disabilities\/\"> Read more >><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":20006,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10006","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-caregiving"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.9 (Yoast SEO v26.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Preparing for Caregiving for Children With Disabilities | Lifeline<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Can you successfully raise, care for, and plan for the future of your child, all while maintaining your caregiver health?\" \/>\n<meta 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