LifeCare Senior Advocates: A Senior Advocate for Your Family, Based in Walnut, Iowa
Based in Walnut, Iowa. Helping families locally and nationwide by phone or video.
When care decisions feel overwhelming, you don't have to work through them alone. LifeCare Senior Advocates gives families clear guidance on Medicaid, care, and long-term planning, so you can make the next decision with confidence.
Applying for nursing home Medicaid? Get the free Medicaid checklist
When a Care Situation Changes Overnight
A fall. A hospital discharge. A new diagnosis. One week your parent is managing fine, and the next your family has to decide where they will live, who will pay for care, and what happens to the house. Safety concerns, legal gaps, money pressure, and family disagreement tend to arrive at the same time.
LifeCare Senior Advocates exists for these moments. Dave Brandt and his team help you see what is happening, sort out what matters most, and decide what needs to happen next, in the right order. We do not represent any care facility. We work for your family.
You don't need to have everything figured out. You just need a place to start.
How LifeCare Senior Advocates Helps Families
Most families come to us with one urgent question. Behind it, there are usually four or five more. Our services cover the full picture.
Medicaid and Medi-Cal Planning
Medicaid is a major source of coverage for qualifying long-term care. Medicare generally does not cover ongoing custodial care. Medicaid's rules are where most families get stuck. We review your situation, explain what you can keep and what can be protected, and connect you with a certified Medicaid planner from our partner firm, who handles the application with you. Get Medicaid planning help for families before you spend down savings you may be able to protect.
Medicaid planningCare Crisis and Placement Guidance
When a hospital stay ends or a parent can no longer live safely at home, we help you sort the options, compare care settings, and coordinate the move. We stay with you until your parent is settled. When you need someone in your corner, we advocate for your family, not for a facility.
Care advocacyLong-Term Care Planning
The best time to plan for long-term care is before a crisis. We help you understand what care costs, review any long-term care policy you already have, and build a plan your family can follow when the time comes. Start planning for long-term care while you still have every option open.
Long-term care planningVA Aid and Attendance
Veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for VA benefits that help pay for care at home or in assisted living. We explain how the benefit works and what the VA looks at. An accredited representative on Dave's team handles VA claims.
VA benefitsIrrevocable Funeral Trusts
An irrevocable funeral trust sets funeral funds aside in a way Medicaid does not count as an asset. We help families use one as part of a larger Medicaid plan. Funeral trusts are not offered in Michigan or New York.
Funeral trustsApplying for Nursing Home Medicaid?
Download our free checklist of every document to gather before you apply.
Why Families Choose LifeCare Senior Advocates
Dave Brandt has worked inside the long-term care industry for more than 25 years. That includes senior leadership roles with the long-term care insurance divisions of General Electric and John Hancock, plus years guiding families directly through care, Medicaid, and estate decisions. He has seen the system from the inside, so he knows where families get stuck and where the real options are.
- 25+ years in long-term care
- Veteran-owned business
- Independent: we do not represent any care facility
- Licensed insurance agent
- No-fee first conversation for every family member
Dave is a licensed insurance agent. When a long-term care policy, annuity, or funeral trust fits your plan, he will tell you plainly, and you will always know when a recommendation involves a product. Read how we work and how we are paid.
How It Works
- Schedule a no-fee conversationTell us what is happening and what worries you most. Any family member is welcome to join the call.
- We review your situationCare needs, Medicaid eligibility, timing, and family concerns, so you know where you stand.
- We lay out a plan in the right orderYou leave with clear next steps and know which professionals to call, and when.
- We stay with youMost families need more than one conversation to get through a care decision, and we are there for the ones that follow.
Serving Families Nationwide From Walnut, Iowa
LifeCare Senior Advocates is based in Walnut, Iowa, and works with families across the Council Bluffs and Omaha metro, including Atlantic, Avoca, Harlan, Red Oak, Shenandoah, Bellevue, and Papillion. Most conversations happen by phone or video, so we also help families in other states. Medicaid rules vary by state. We help you understand the rules where your loved one lives and work with local professionals when the situation calls for it.
Medicaid planning by state: Nebraska | Iowa | California
- Walnut
- Council Bluffs
- Omaha
- Atlantic
- Avoca
- Harlan
- Red Oak
- Shenandoah
- Bellevue
- Papillion
What Families Say
"Dave not only helped take care of mom but also personally helped me ... restore a relationship with my sister. We can't thank him enough."
Common Questions
What does LifeCare Senior Advocates do?
We help families work through urgent and complex long-term care decisions: Medicaid, care crises, placement, VA benefits, and planning ahead. We bring clarity and structure, then guide you through each step in the right order.
Is this a placement agency?
No. Placement guidance is one part of what we do, but we do not represent any facility or work on a facility's behalf. Some care communities pay Dave a referral fee when a family moves in, and he tells you which ones before you choose. We help you compare options from your family's side of the table.
Is Dave an attorney?
No. LifeCare Senior Advocates is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. When your family needs legal documents, we help you prepare for and coordinate with an attorney.
When should we reach out?
Most families call when something feels urgent: a hospital discharge, a sudden decline, safety concerns, or confusion about Medicaid. If you are not sure where to start, that is usually the right time to call.
What does the first conversation cost?
Nothing. The first conversation is always at no charge, for you and any family member who wants to join. You leave with a clear picture of your options before any commitment.
Do you work with families outside Iowa and Nebraska?
Yes. Most conversations happen by phone or video, and we work with families in many states. Medicaid rules vary by state, so we explain the rules where your loved one lives.
Why Trust LifeCare Senior Advocates
Dave Brandt brings more than 25 years in long-term care, including senior leadership roles with the long-term care insurance divisions of General Electric and John Hancock. LifeCare Senior Advocates is veteran-owned and works for families, not facilities.
Dave Brandt is a licensed insurance agent. LifeCare Senior Advocates is not a law firm and does not provide legal or investment advice.
Let's Talk Through Your Situation
You don't have to figure this out alone. Call 402-669-0246 or schedule a no-fee conversation, and we will help you see the next step. No pressure. No obligation.
Dave Brandt is a licensed insurance agent. LifeCare Senior Advocates is not a law firm and does not provide legal or investment advice.