Elder Law
Protecting Retirement Accounts for Spouses Who Need Long Term Care
Given the rapidly increasing cost of long-term care in a nursing home or assisted living facility, many couples inquire about how to protect their assets from being consumed by such costs, particularly their retirement accounts which often account for the majority of...
#FreeBritney. How is Conservatorship Supposed to Work?
The recent media attention to pop star, Britney Spears’ conservatorship has painted a dismal picture of arrangements whereby a court-appointed individual has authority to control various aspects of another individual’s finances and personal decisions. Public opinion...
So, You Want to Sell Your Life Estate?
Many people have established a life estate in their residence to protect it if they require Medicaid benefits to pay for their long-term care. A person establishes a life estate in their residence by signing a deed which transfers ownership to their desired...
How to Address Family Conflicts Concerning Caregiving for Aging Parents
Having adult children provide care and support to an aging or ill parent can be very helpful, but in some cases, can be a cause of stress and family conflict. Caregiving can bring families closer as they provide mutual support, but in some situations, the stress and...
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – June 15th
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is June 15th. WEAAD is observed the same date each year and was launched in 2006 by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations. Its purpose is to provide...
National Healthcare Decisions Day – April 16, 2019
National Healthcare Decisions Day was founded in 2008 to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning and encourage individuals to express their wishes regarding their healthcare and end of life...
Long-Term Care and Insurance Considerations
Clients often seek the advice of an elder law attorney regarding the best protection for their assets in the event they need long-term care in a nursing home or assisted living facility. Since Medicare does not pay for long-term custodial care, having...
Transferring the Residence to a Caregiver Child-Exception to Divestment
I’m often asked whether transferring a parent’s residence to an adult child or children will “save the house from the nursing home.” Parents have heard that their friends or other relatives have made such a transfer in order to protect the residence, or to avoid...
Family Caregiver Contracts
When an ill or older relative needs help with daily activities and personal care, selecting an at-home caregiver can be a worrisome task. Who will provide care? How will they be compensated? What if the older relative needs not just occasional, but full-time care? To alleviate these concerns, a growing number of adult children are becoming caregivers for aging parents.
Although many adult children or grandchildren feel a strong sense of duty to provide care for their loved one, being a caregiver can be extremely time consuming. Providing care to an aging parent may make it difficult for the caregiver to meet other commitments, and may even result in sacrificing employment in order to provide the necessary care.