The 'Sandwich Generation' Guide: Protecting Your Parents' Assets Before a Nursing Home Wipes Them Out

Nursing home costs in Washington can exceed $120,000 per year, and without a legal plan, a lifetime of savings can disappear before Medicaid coverage kicks in. For families balancing their own households while caring for aging parents, the five-year Medicaid lookback window is the most important deadline most people have never heard of. This guide breaks down how Washington Medicaid rules work, which assets are exempt, how estate recovery can affect the family home, and what legal tools – like irrevocable trusts, spousal protection planning, and Medicaid-compliant annuities – actually do. Early planning consistently costs far less than spend-down, and the strategies available narrow sharply once a parent is already in care.