Palms Care Center Nursing Home and Medicaid Help in Lauderdale Lakes

Rehabilitation and Nursing Care in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, Plus the Medicaid Planning That Protects Your Family

If a loved one is heading to Palms Care Center in Lauderdale Lakes, the care itself is usually the easy part to arrange. The hard part is paying for a long stay without draining a lifetime of savings. Here is the plain version. Medicare covers only short, rehab-focused stays, so most Broward County families who need months of nursing care turn to Florida Medicaid to cover the bill. Whether you qualify comes down to three things, namely your income, your countable assets, and how any recent gifts or transfers look under Medicaid's five-year look-back. Good planning can protect far more than most people expect, even after a parent has already moved in.

Palms Care Center is located at 3370 NW 47th Ter, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33313, in Broward County. It is a 120-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility that participates in Medicare and Medicaid.

The team at Palms Care Center focuses on helping residents live comfortably while receiving the clinical support they need, with both short-term rehabilitation and longer-term nursing options.

The facility offers rehabilitation services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech pathology, along with skilled nursing and personalized care. On-site nursing services include vision, dental, dermatology, and psychiatry.

Alongside medical care, the facility keeps residents engaged with daily programming and social activities.

• Daily activity programs
• Entertainment and social events
• Community outings
• Activities that provide physical and mental stimulation

If you or a family member needs care at a nursing or rehabilitation center, it is a good time to think about estate and Medicaid planning. With help from Elder Needs Law, you can plan for the care ahead while protecting your assets. Here is what Florida families should know about paying for that care in 2026.

How Florida Law Treats Long-Term Care Costs

Most families assume Medicare will cover a nursing home stay. It rarely does for long. Medicare Part A pays for skilled nursing only after a qualifying three-day hospital stay, and only for up to 100 days per benefit period. Days 1 through 20 are fully covered. As of 2026, for days 21 through 100 you pay a coinsurance of $217 per day (up from $209.50 in 2025), and after day 100 you pay everything. These figures come from CMS 2026 Medicare skilled nursing facility costs.

That gap is why Florida Medicaid matters. Its Institutional Care Program (ICP) is the pathway that actually pays for long-term nursing home care, and unlike some programs it is an entitlement, so there is no waitlist once you qualify. Here is how the Florida Medicaid long-term care programs compare.

To qualify for ICP in 2026, a single applicant generally must meet the following requirements.

• Gross monthly income below $2,982 (the 300% federal benefit rate cap, effective 2026)
• Countable assets under $2,000
• A documented nursing-home level of care

The income and asset limits come from the Florida Department of Children and Families (Medicaid).

Supporting Legal Details

Two rules trip up families more than any others, and both are worth knowing before you apply.

The first is the five-year look-back. When you apply, Florida reviews the previous 60 months of financial records. Under 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(c), any gift or transfer for less than fair market value during that window can create a penalty period during which Medicaid will not pay. This is the rule that surprises people who gave money to a child or grandchild in good faith. One important point is that the look-back does not mean you must wait five years to plan. Most families who come to us need Medicaid within months, not years, and there are lawful ways to protect assets on that timeline.

The second is the income cap. Florida is an income-cap state, so earning even a dollar over $2,982 a month can disqualify an applicant, no matter how high the care bills are. The fix is a Qualified Income Trust, also called a Miller Trust, authorized under 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(d)(4)(B). Excess income is deposited into the trust each month and used for approved expenses. It has to be set up before the month you seek eligibility, because Florida does not allow it retroactively.

A Medicaid planning attorney from Elder Needs Law can walk you through the 60-month look-back period and structure a plan that fits your family's actual timeline.

Why Early Planning Pays Off

Three current data points show why families act sooner rather than later.

• Florida nursing home care can now run more than $10,000 per month. At that rate, even a modest estate can be spent down in under two years, which is the core reason to plan before a crisis. The Genworth Cost of Care Survey puts the national semi-private nursing home median near $115,000 a year, with Florida running higher.
• A married applicant's spouse can keep up to $162,660 in assets under the 2026 Community Spouse Resource Allowance. That protection only works if it is claimed correctly, so it matters early.
• The community spouse can also keep a monthly income allowance of up to $4,066.50 in 2026, which keeps the at-home spouse financially stable while the other receives care.

Each of these is money that families routinely leave on the table when they wait until admission day to seek advice.

Serving Lauderdale Lakes and Broward County

Elder Needs Law helps families across Florida, with attorneys who handle Medicaid and estate planning matters throughout Broward County, including Lauderdale Lakes, Plantation, Fort Lauderdale, Tamarac, Sunrise, and the surrounding communities. Working with a Florida attorney who knows how the local Department of Children and Families offices and CARES assessments operate can make a Medicaid application move faster and with fewer denials.

Our Plantation office serves Broward County families and sits a short drive from Palms Care Center, and we meet clients across the region by appointment. Wherever you are in Florida, we can begin your plan remotely and keep the process simple.

Elder Needs Law Services

Medicaid and Medicare Planning

Medicaid planning helps you qualify for Medicaid without selling everything you own. Our attorneys build strategies that make you eligible for benefits while preserving assets, and we handle the look-back and income-trust details that cause most denials.

Comprehensive Estate Planning

We help with estate planning documents including wills, trusts, advance directives, and powers of attorney.

Elder Law

Elder law covers Medicaid planning, estate planning, probate, guardianship, and related matters for older Floridians.

Probate

Probate is the court process for distributing assets after death. It is time-consuming and costly, so we help clients build plans, such as trusts, that keep assets out of probate where possible.

Guardianship

When a family member can no longer manage their own affairs, the court can appoint a guardian. Our team helps families set this up for a loved one who needs that support.

Key Takeaways

• Palms Care Center is a 120-bed rehabilitation and skilled nursing facility in Lauderdale Lakes, Broward County, participating in Medicare and Medicaid.
• Medicare covers skilled nursing only up to 100 days per benefit period, with a $217 per day coinsurance for days 21 to 100 in 2026.
• Florida Medicaid's ICP is the program that pays for long-term nursing home care, with a 2026 income cap of $2,982 per month and a $2,000 countable-asset limit for single applicants.
• The five-year look-back reviews past transfers, but it does not force you to wait five years to plan.
• A married couple can protect up to $162,660 for the at-home spouse, and being over the income cap is fixable with a Qualified Income Trust.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Will Medicare pay for a long stay at Palms Care Center?

A. Only for a limited time. Medicare Part A covers skilled nursing up to 100 days per benefit period after a qualifying three-day hospital stay, with a $217 per day coinsurance for days 21 to 100 in 2026 and no coverage after day 100. For longer stays, families generally rely on Florida Medicaid.

Q. What are the 2026 Florida Medicaid limits for nursing home care?

A. A single ICP applicant generally needs gross monthly income under $2,982 and countable assets under $2,000, plus a nursing-home level of care. These figures adjust each January with the Social Security cost-of-living change.

Q. My mother gave money to her grandchildren recently. Did that ruin her chances?

A. Not necessarily. Under 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(c), transfers within the past 60 months can create a penalty period, but the amount and timing matter, and lawful planning strategies can often reduce or work around the impact. Have the transfers reviewed before you apply.

Q. My father's income is over the limit. Is he simply disqualified?

A. No. Florida is an income-cap state, but a Qualified Income Trust (Miller Trust) lets applicants over the $2,982 cap still qualify. It must be set up before the month you seek eligibility, so timing is important.

Q. Can we still protect assets if a parent is already living at the facility?

A. Often yes. Many families we help need Medicaid within months, and there are lawful ways to protect assets even after admission. The sooner you get advice, the more options remain on the table.

Talk With a Florida Elder Law and Medicaid Planning Attorney

Planning for a stay at Palms Care Center is easier when you take three steps in order. First, gather a clear picture of income and assets so you know where you stand against the 2026 limits. Second, list any gifts or property transfers from the past five years so nothing surprises you during Medicaid review. Third, speak with a Medicaid planning attorney who can build a plan around your family's real timeline. The one document worth having ready for that first conversation is a recent set of bank statements, since that is what Florida Medicaid examines most closely. Do this now and you protect what your family has worked for, instead of watching it go to nursing home bills that thoughtful planning could have prevented. The attorneys at Elder Needs Law help families across Florida plan for the next stage of life with their assets and their peace of mind intact.