Cash-challenged seniors who want to stay in their own homes have kept reverse mortgages high on the public radar. But not everyone thinks they're such a good idea.

In general, a reverse mortgage converts home equity into cash in several different ways, ranging from monthly payments to an equity line to one-time payouts – or a combination. The amount you can borrow varies according to your age, the value of the home, current interest rates and loan fees.

Reports suggest reverse mortgages can be...

Despite predictions for an ever-increasing need for nursing homes, many nursing home owners struggle to keep beds full and payments rolling in. Part of the reason may be an insistence on attracting and retaining private-pay patients. Many nursing home operators labor under the mistaken notion that Medi-Cal/Medicaid is for low-income clients, time-consuming and provides only partial payment.

Yet, consider the case of one southern California nursing home operator with 15 years experience who avoided Medi-Cal/Medicaid,...