A significant portion of individuals over the age of 65 will eventually require long-term nursing care — an extremely expensive proposition since such care on average costs nearly $100,000 annually for a semi-private room. Because very few families are able to pay for such care out of pocket, Medicaid (MassHealth) is the...
Long-term Care Planning with the help from a CELA
What is a CELA?
The National Elder Law Foundation (NELF) is the only national organization accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) to certify practitioners of elder and special needs law. NELF’s Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) designation represents confirmation of a lawyer’s exceptional expertise in the practice of...
Virtual Meetings
Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have been offering virtual meetings. Here are a few reasons people prefer them.
Time:
They’re far more efficient.Saves drive time.Easier to schedule – reduces the effort of scheduling your life around a meeting.Inclusivity:
How Expertise in Elder Law Benefits your Estate Plan
Written by Attorney Daniel M. Surprenant, Esq., CELA
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Within the larger subject of estate planning is the concept of elder law. Essentially, elder law is estate planning that deals with issues more common amongst the senior population. Because they regularly address these issues, elder law attorneys are not...
Telemarketing and Internet Scams that Target the Elderly
It is well-known that seniors are especially vulnerable to scam artists. The reasons are quite clear: seniors are often retired and available, having the time and interest to be responsive to a stranger’s proposition. They are also much more likely to talk on the phone or reply to an email that piques...
May is National Elder Law Month!
May is a big month for seniors! Back in 1963, President John F. Kennedy declared May to be Senior Citizens Month for anyone over 65 years old. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter kept the sentiment but changed the name to Older Americans Month.
Naturally, the National Academy for Elder...
Forbes Article: The Unique Estate Planning Needs Of The Unmarried
Estate planning discussions often give the impression that every senior in America is married with two or more kids. That’s not true, of course, and those who do not fit the profile need estate planning guidance at least as much as the stereotypical couple does.
Unmarried people should put a...
Planning for the Incapacity of Progressive Diseases
If you or a close relative has been diagnosed with a disease that will interfere with your ability to be independent physically and/or mentally, you are at a serious crossroads. You can proceed blindly, pretending the inevitable will not happen, or you can take control and plan for incapacity.
Can My Parent Who Has Dementia Sign a Legal Document?
The prevalence of dementia in our aging population makes this question extremely relevant for a great many of us. At Surprenant & Beneski, many of our clients in Southeastern Massachusetts and on Cape Cod are dealing with the complications that arise when an elderly relative with dementia has left legal steps untaken.
How to plan your estate as a Solo Ager
According to Forbes Magazine, it is estimated that there are 12 million adults over age of 65 and are living alone, or 27% of the overall population. That is a staggering number. Of that population, most are women. Ironically, although they are now alone, most were at one time or another, caretakers to...