How does elder law differ from general law practice?
Elder law is a subspecialty of estate planning. Elder law attorneys help individuals and their families plan for retirement benefits, healthcare and long-term care, Medicaid and Medicare coverage, home care, and nursing home care. We also help with decision-making documents and provide guidance on other legal issues for seniors and people with disabilities. We provide clients and their families with a holistic approach because we spend a great deal of time learning about their needs and wants. Our work is not just a transaction. We quarterback a team that includes financial planners, accountants, insurance agents and other professionals to design and implement an appropriate plan for each client.
At what age should a person contact an elder law attorney?
There really is no right or wrong age, but by age 60 you should start the planning process. The longer you wait in life, the more you run the risk of your money not being protected, or you may lose your capacity to complete the task because of health issues. We also recommend that our clients do multigenerational planning by helping their kids start estate plans early, for example, when they are in their 30s with young children. We also suggest that anyone 18+ prepare the basics that will protect them in a medical crisis.
What does Long-Term Care Planning consist of?
Our attorneys can help you and your loved ones with:
- Incapacity Planning
- Qualifying for public benefits such as MassHealth/Medicaid
- Helping you find the right nursing home
- Helping you arrange for home care
- Guardianships/conservatorships
- Asset protection