Can a nursing home pursue family members for unpaid bills?

Family members are often shielded from a loved one's nursing home bills, but some situations can leave you on the hook. Jackaldu/Getty Images Over the last few years, the rising cost of long-term care has become one of the biggest financial concerns for older Americans and their families. With nursing home expenses reaching thousands of dollars per month on average, even households that have carefully planned for retirement can find themselves struggling when someone requires extended care. As those bills mount, it's not uncommon for adult children or other relatives to wonder what happens if those nursing home invoices go unpaid . That uncertainty often compounds, though, after a loved one dies or when they're no longer able to manage their own finances, meaning someone else has to step in to handle things instead. In these cases, families may receive phone calls or letters about outstanding nursing home care balances, leaving them unsure of whether they're legally responsible for paying what's owed or whether the nursing home is simply attempting to collect from anyone connected to the resident. The answer isn't always straightforward, unfortunately. In many cases, family members are protected from personal liability for a loved one's nursing home bills, but there are exceptions to nearly every rule. So, can a nursing home really pursue family members for payment? That's what we'll examine below. …