For many people, it can be a struggle when the need for long-term care arises later in life. Medicaid is often the tool used to avoid having to pay out-of-pocket for long-term care. But to be eligible for Medicaid, a person must be almost completely impoverished. 

There are several tools available to shield assets so that an individual can become Medicaid eligible. The tools normally involve an individual giving up either all ownership, partial ownership or control of assets.