Elder Law

Americans are living longer than ever before, and many people will require some type of long-term care during their lifetime. In fact, approximately half of all women and one in four men find themselves in a nursing home at some point in their lives. The cost of such care is already high and climbing ever higher, and currently averages around $10,000 a month or more, depending on where you live. It is not surprising, then, that many families lose their entire life savings within the first year of a prolonged nursing home stay.

Does this mean you are destined to go broke if you require long-term care? Absolutely not! We can show you a number of ways to preserve your hard earned assets to enhance your quality of life and receive the quality  of care you deserve.

What about long-term care insurance?

If you have LTCI, you may lessen the need to use your other financial resources to pay for long-term care.  Not all LTCI policies are created equal.  For example, where can you receive care?  Some policies cover only stays in a skilled nursing facility while others provide for in-home care.  Some policies have a 30-90 waiting period, which means that no benefits will be paid until care services have been required and paid for 30-90 days.  It is important to know what your policy says, so you can properly plan.   If you are contemplating purchasing LTCI or have questions about an existing policy, we can help you by reviewing the policy and helping you to understand your coverage.

Assistance From Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint State-Federal program that provides medical assistance to persons who are blind, disabled or over age 65 and meet financial eligibility requirements.  As America’s largest payer of nursing home costs, Medicaid provides care for people who have no other way to pay for long-term care costs.

There is a lot of misinformation out there regarding Medicaid eligibility rules.  Federal law and State policy related to Medicaid are constantly changing.  Accordingly, families should seek the assistance of experienced elder law attorneys, like us, to help understand the complex process of qualifying for Medicaid benefits.

Disability Estate Administration

If you need the assistance of a loved one, due to illness or disability, we can help. A proper foundational estate plan can keep you and your loved ones out of the Probate Court.