Nursing homes can't legally require a third party to guarantee payment as a condition of admission — and yet the form asks every time. Arbitration clauses, 'discharge for any reason', automatic rate increases, bed-hold fees: most are negotiable, some are illegal, all are signed in a hurry. Paste the agreement. You get the clauses explained, the law on each, and exactly what to strike.
Free decode
The whole thing, or the sections on payment, responsible party, arbitration, discharge, rates and personal funds. Say who's being admitted, who's signing, and how it's being paid.
Why this exists
Federal law has banned third-party guarantees and prohibited arbitration as a condition of admission. Florida sets discharge and rate-notice rules. The form still asks for all of it — because families don't know.
How it works
Payment, responsible party, arbitration, discharge, rates, personal funds, bed hold. Say who's signing and how it's paid.
Nursing home (federal + ch. 400) or ALF (ch. 429) rules clause by clause: allowed, negotiable, or prohibited — and the exact edit.
What to strike, how to sign as agent (never guarantor), the questions for the admissions director, and who to call if they refuse (Ombudsman, AHCA).
Plans
For one family. Elder-law firms, hospitals' discharge planners and placement agencies license it.
One membership unlocks every senior-protection tool — scam checks, Medicare and Social Security decoders, discharge appeals, care-contract checks — for your whole family. English and Spanish.
All prices in USD, handled by Stripe. The free decode never goes behind a paywall.
Common questions
No. Care Facility Contract Check FL explains what federal and Florida law say about nursing home and assisted-living contracts, but it is not legal advice and cannot see the whole agreement or your family's finances. For a large private-pay stay or Medicaid planning, an elder-law attorney is worth the consultation, and Florida's Long-Term Care Ombudsman (1-888-831-0404) can attend the admission for free.
The decode is free — the tool description calls it a 'free decode' and lists no paid plans. The material provided does not state whether pasted text is saved, so treat the admissions packet with the same caution you would any personal document and remove sensitive details you don't need to include.
According to 42 CFR 483, nursing homes cannot legally require a third party to guarantee payment as a condition of admission — even though the form often asks anyway. The tool flags this type of clause and the line to strike or initial 'decline,' but confirm the specifics with the admissions director or an elder-law attorney.
These are exactly the kinds of clauses the tool is built to decode — jury waivers, arbitration agreements, broad discharge language, and automatic rate increases — explained in plain words along with what the law actually allows a nursing home (ch. 400, 42 CFR 483) or assisted-living facility (ch. 429) to require. It also suggests questions to ask the admissions director, but it does not negotiate or sign anything for you.
No — assisted-living facilities are governed by chapter 429, which the material describes as weaker rules than the ch. 400 and 42 CFR 483 rules covering nursing homes; continuing-care communities fall under chapter 651. The tool is not affiliated with any facility, agency, or law firm, so double-check which category your facility falls under with the admissions staff or the Ombudsman.
No. Care Facility Contract Check FL explica lo que dicen las leyes federales y de la Florida sobre los contratos de hogares de ancianos e instalaciones de vida asistida, pero no es asesoría legal y no puede ver el acuerdo completo ni las finanzas de su familia. Para una estadía grande pagada de forma privada o planificación de Medicaid, vale la pena consultar a un abogado especializado en derecho de adultos mayores, y el Defensor del Pueblo de Cuidado a Largo Plazo de la Florida (1-888-831-0404) puede asistir a la admisión de forma gratuita.
La decodificación es gratis — la descripción de la herramienta la llama 'decodificación gratuita' y no incluye planes de pago. El material proporcionado no indica si el texto que se pega se guarda, así que le recomendamos tratar el paquete de admisión con la misma precaución que cualquier documento personal y omitir detalles sensibles que no sean necesarios.
Según el 42 CFR 483, los hogares de ancianos no pueden exigir legalmente que un tercero garantice el pago como condición para la admisión, aunque el formulario a menudo lo pida de todas formas. La herramienta señala este tipo de cláusula y la línea que se debe tachar o marcar como 'declino', pero confirme los detalles con el director de admisiones o con un abogado especializado en adultos mayores.
Estos son precisamente el tipo de cláusulas que la herramienta está diseñada para decodificar — renuncias al jurado, acuerdos de arbitraje, lenguaje amplio de alta y aumentos automáticos de tarifa — explicadas en palabras sencillas junto con lo que la ley realmente permite exigir a un hogar de ancianos (cap. 400, 42 CFR 483) o a una instalación de vida asistida (cap. 429). También sugiere preguntas para hacerle al director de admisiones, pero no negocia ni firma nada por usted.
No — las instalaciones de vida asistida se rigen por el capítulo 429, que el material describe como reglas más débiles que las del capítulo 400 y el 42 CFR 483 que cubren los hogares de ancianos; las comunidades de cuidado continuo caen bajo el capítulo 651. La herramienta no está afiliada a ninguna instalación, agencia ni bufete de abogados, así que confirme con el personal de admisiones o con el Defensor del Pueblo a qué categoría pertenece su instalación.
Built by the same team, free to try.