Presented by Tracy W Mitchell: Using a Specialist to Prepare Financially for Long Term Care

Long Term Care Insurance Specialist

Increasingly we see insurance agents or financial advisers that are specializing solely in the sale of long term care insurance. Not only is long term care insurance a complicated product but companies are constantly coming out with new products as well. A person selling long term care insurance also needs to have an understanding of what long term care is in order to make suitable recommendations to people buying the insurance.

 

Most insurance agents and financial planners simply don’t have the time to keep up with these issues and that is why some practitioners have specialized exclusively in long term care. Here are the advantages of using a specialist.

 

• The specialist often represents more than one long term care insurance company and can find the company with the best benefits and the best price.
• The specialist often has experience with a number of companies and can recommend those that are good at paying claims, are expected to continue selling long term care insurance or are prone to rate increases.
• The specialist has experience with medical problems involved in the issue and underwriting of long term care insurance and he or she can find the right company for underwriting or help to get the insurance through the underwriting in a chosen company.
• Specialists are generally experts in understanding long term care issues, especially those specialists certified to sell partnership policies. Because of this knowledge, the specialist can recommend the best coverage to dovetail with the insured’s assets, income and desires for care settings and services.
• Many specialists work with a team of eldercare advisers such as care managers, pre-need funeral planners, elder law attorneys, home health providers, retirement financial planners and reverse mortgage specialists. This allows them to help the pre-retirement generation with long term care insurance and retirement planning and also help the parents of those people with elder care needs.Elder Financial Advisor
• (Your name) is a financial practitioner who specializes in helping people prepare financially for long term care. (Your name) can be reached at (your contact information).
• An elder financial advisor is also likely to work with a team of eldercare advisers such as care managers, pre-need funeral planners, long-term care insurance specialists, reverse mortgage specialists and home health providers.
• This person will work closely with an estate planning or elder law attorney to make sure all arrangements for the estate, for disability, for loss of capacity, for medical treatment and for long-term care are covered.
• A financial planner or advisor who works with the elderly is going to understand how to invest assets for that age group. This person will also understand how to use assets and income when there is a need for long-term care.

Presented by Tracy W Mitchell: Who Was Supposed To Be Watching Grandma?

There is a popular tune played this time of year called “Grandma Got Run Over by A Reindeer” which relates that Grandma — after drinking too much eggnog — went out into the winter cold to get her medication and was run over by a reindeer. The question is, “Who was supposed to be watching Grandma?”

Though this little tune is just for fun, it may very well raise alarms to many caregivers of the elderly. Caregivers know that even at a holiday party they cannot let down their diligent watch over their elderly loved one. As far-fetched as it may sound, with all the people and noise, an elderly family member with dementia or Alzheimer’s may be enjoying the family gathering and then suddenly become confused and walk to the door and leave.

For family caregivers the added stress of the holidays with decorating, shopping, parties and keeping up with all the family traditions is an overwhelming quest. Feelings of isolation, depression and sadness come with this added stress. There are millions of Americans who are caring for elderly frail loved ones and most of these caregivers will go through some of these emotions, especially this time of year.

There are some things you can do as a caregiver to help you and those you care for enjoy the holiday season.

First take care of yourself. Try to eat right, get plenty of sleep and exercise. This will help reduce stress and strengthen your ability to cope with caregiving responsibilities.

Prioritize your holiday traditions. Perhaps instead of cooking a large family dinner, have everyone bring his or her favorite dish. Use paper plates. Forfeit the traditional outside light decorating for a lighted wreath on the front door. Choose one or two parties or concerts to attend instead of trying to do it all.

Arrange for help. Call on other family members to help with the caregiving while you do your shopping or go out for the evening. If family is not available, ask your church group or a neighbor if they would donate a few hours.

Use community services. Many senior centers provide meals for the elderly and supervised activities, onsite, at no charge or a minimal charge. For locating senior services in your state, call your state Area Agency on Aging or check the national locator website at http://www.n4a.org/

Use adult day care services. Some assisted living facilities provide day activities and meals for seniors on a day by day basis. Other organizations called “adult day service providers” specialize exclusively in this sort of care support at a reasonable cost. These support services provide respite for caregivers from their caregiving responsibilities as well as social interaction for their elderly family members. There is a cost for adult day services, but the benefit for all is worth it.

For example:

Jean had brought her mother into her home to care for her when mom’s Alzheimer’s made it impossible for her to be alone. When the Christmas season approached, Jean realized she had to make some choices. She did not want to give up the traditions she had set with her daughters in shopping and lunches, but it wouldn’t be possible with her caregiving responsibilities. In searching for a solution, Jean visited an adult day services facility near her home. She found she could schedule the days she needed off for her mother to come in. The adult day services company also provided transportation and would pick up mom and bring her home in the evening.

Although Jean’s mother was not sure she would like to go at first, she found she enjoyed the programs, meals and conversation with new friends and the activities provided.

The time it gave Jean to have for herself was worth the extra cost for the day care.

Technology to the rescue. Here is a solution that would have kept “Grandma” from going out in the winter cold and getting run over by a reindeer. Companies that have created monitoring systems, security alarms and other safety equipment are “tweaking” them to adapt to the needs of seniors and their care givers.

Here are a few examples:

• Ankle or wrist bands that monitor location and alert the provider when a person has gone beyond the designated perimeter, such as out the front door of the house.
• Motion detectors. Set throughout the home, motion detectors allow someone outside the home to follow a senior as he or she moves through the house.
• Smart medication dispensers. Live monitoring and dispensing of pills.
• Emergency response alert. At a touch of a button on a desktop monitor, bracelet or necklace, emergency help is summoned.

Whether providing care in your home or helping senior family members in their own homes, your use of monitoring and “tech” help aids can provide extra safety for your loved ones, and peace of mind for you.

You are not alone. Join a caregiving help group. Your local senior center may have one or go on the internet to find one. Hearing about other caregivers’ problems and solutions and being able to share your own and ask questions is a great way to relieve stress and gain a new perspective. Check out websites like the National Family Caregivers Association at http://www.nfcacares.org/

Work with a Senior Care Professional. Recognize that you are doing the very best you know how. You are not a geriatric health care practitioner, geriatric care manager, home care nurse or aide, hospice provider or family mediation counselor, nor do you have the years of training and experience these professionals have, but you can definitely use their experience. In fact, using asenior care specialist will make caregiving easier for you and more beneficial for your elderly family member.

As an example:

Mark stopped by his father Dan’s home every night after work to help with any errands or things he needed around the house. He began to notice that Dan was not showering, dressing or even fixing meals some days. Another concern was his father’s growing confusion and disorientation. A trip to the family doctor only brought more concern to Mark, since the doctor claimed it was just the aging process that caused the confusion.

Wanting a second professional opinion on what was best for his father, Mark hired Shelly — a Professional Geriatric Care Manger — to do an assessment. Shelly arranged for Mark and Dan to see a geriatrician, who advised that proper meals and an increase in some vitamins, would help clear up the confusion and disorientation. Shelly arranged for a home care company to come in daily to help with personal needs and prepare meals.

Soon Dan was back to his old self and able to function on his own.

You can find a wide variety of care professionals in your area on the National Care Planning Council website at www.longtermcarelink.net.

One more thing to remember. As a family caregiver, the greatest gift you are giving this holiday season is “Love.”

Presented by Tracy W Mitchell Attitudes towards Aging often Affect the Health of Those Receiving Long Term Care

Among all of the suggestions available to caregivers for coping with the care of a loved one, some simple strategies that influence the attitude of care recipients are often neglected. Simply put, a more positive attitude towards aging can have a profound effect on the health of a care recipient.

 

Many elderly buy into the notion that they themselves are no longer useful and as a result make little attempt to keep themselves healthy and active. After all, they are getting closer to the end of their lives and have no desire to try new things or to challenge themselves or to eat or exercise properly.

 

There is a great deal of research evidence that demonstrates older people can learn, can retain memory and can be actively involved in business and in the community. The lack of physical exercise, social involvement and mental stimulation in older Americans often leads to these people losing the ability to use their minds and their bodies. The older person’s negative attitude towards aging becomes self-fulfilling.

 

Many studies show that older people who are physically active have less joint pain, lower blood pressure, less depression, fewer heart attacks and a lower incidence of cancer. Proper nutrition also has the same affect on the aging process; it delays the progression of debilitating illness or disability. Recent research even indicates that weight loss and exercise can reverse the severity of diabetes.

 

Lack of social stimulation can also lead to poor health. Having an interest in something not only stimulates an older person’s mind but also creates a better mental attitude which results often in better health. There is empirical evidence that using one’s brain may prevent dementia in older age.

 

Here are some suggestions that might help caregivers improve the health of someone suffering from chronic medical afflictions, depression or debilitating physical challenges.

 

• If it is feasible, provide hobbies.
• If it is feasible, promote exercise adjusted to the care recipient’s ability.
• Allow the care recipient to care for pets and plants even if he or she suffers from dementia. (Nursing homes have demonstrated that Alzheimer’s patients respond well to this therapy.)
• Provide music or allow the care recipient to sing or play an instrument. (Nursing homes have also shown this helps immensely with dementia patients.)
• Make the care recipient responsible for his or her own health
• Allow for interaction with grandchildren or small children.
• Provide the care recipient with challenging games or puzzles (sudoku, crosswords, trivia, card games, memory games etc.)
• Encourage the care recipient to read.
• Provide planned activities for the care recipient.
• Provide opportunities for volunteer work at home. (Many volunteer organizations can allow disabled folks at home to be involved through their computer and the Internet.)
• Provide special meals and formal table settings.Adult Day Centers and Senior Citizen Centers also offer all the above activities on a daily basis. Contact (your name) at (your contact information) to learn more about support services for people receiving long term care.

Presented by Tracy W Mitchell Using an Elder Law Attorney

As the population of the country ages, more people will run into legal or planning issues that are unique to seniors. This might include help with obtaining veterans’ pensions, Medicare or Medicaid. Other issues might include the need for long term care planning, solving disputes with family members, dealing with financial elder abuse, providing for powers of attorney, medical care planning or guardianship.

 

Elder Law attorneys represent a growing specialty of the law that helps the elderly deal with many of the problems mentioned above. But Elder Law attorneys can often do much more for their clients. Below is a list of services that an elder law attorney might provide. This list was taken from the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys’ website.

 

Below is a list of what an elder law attorney (lawyer) might do:

 

• Preservation or transfer of assets seeking to avoid spousal impoverishment when a spouse enters a nursing home
• Medicaid qualification and application and Medicaid planning strategies
• Medicare claims and appeals
• Social security and disability claims and appeals
• Supplemental and long term health insurance issues
• Disability planning, including use of durable powers of attorney, living trusts, “living wills,” for financial management and health care decisions, and other means of delegating management and decision-making to another in case of incompetency or incapacity
• Conservatorships and guardianships
• Estate planning, including planning for the management of one’s estate during life and its disposition on death through the use of trusts, wills and other planning documents
• Probate
• Administration and management of trusts and estates
• Long term care placements in nursing home and life care communities
• Nursing home issues including questions of patients’ rights and nursing home quality
• Elder abuse and fraud recovery cases
• Housing issues, including discrimination and home equity conversions (reverse mortgage)
• Age discrimination in employment
• Retirement, including public and private retirement benefits, survivor benefits and pension benefits
• Health law
• Mental health law(Your name) is an elder law attorney serving the (your area) area. (Your name) can be reached at (your contact information).

Presented by Tracy W Mitchell Caring for a Loved One at Home Can Be Challenging

Informal caregivers are family, friends or volunteers who provide care for a loved one. Informal caregivers are rarely paid directly for their services. They may receive indirect payment through sharing a loved one’s income or assets. Although informal caregivers may provide services in a facility, in most cases they are providers of care in the home.

 

Caregivers face many challenges providing care at home. A wife caring for her husband may risk injury trying to move him or help him bathe or use the toilet. The financial impact is another challenge. The financial burden depends on who the informal caregiver is. For a spouse there is typically no financial cost since income and assets will be the same with or without a need for care. However, if a spouse offering informal care is employed and has to quit his or her job to provide care there is a significant impact on that family’s finances.

 

Despite the fact that there may be no significant financial impact on a spouse caring for the other spouse at home, there can be significant impact on the emotional and physical health of the caregiving spouse. Because of the strain and burnout often associated with caregiving, the healthy spouse may experience deteriorating health and eventually require long term care services as well. In some cases healthy spouses have succumbed drastically to the pressures of caregiving and died prematurely, well before their care recipients have died.

 

Another caregiver challenge may be the need of constant surveillance on a spouse with advanced dementia. Still another caregiving challenge could be a son living 500 miles from his disabled parents and constantly traveling to and from his home, trying to manage a job and his own family as well as taking care of the parents. Other challenges to home care may be caregivers who simply don’t have the time to watch over loved ones and those loved ones are sometimes neglected.

 

The problems with maintaining home care are mainly due to the inadequacies or lack of resources with informal caregivers, but they may also be caused by incompetent formal caregivers. These problems center on five issues:

 

• Inadequate care provided to a loved one
• Lack of training for caregivers
• Lack of social stimulation for care recipients
• Informal caregivers unable to handle the challenge
• Depression and physical ailments caused by caregiver burnoutIn order to make sure home care is a feasible option and can be sustained for a period of time, caregivers must understand the problems outlined above, deal with them and correct them. This often involves bringing in so-called formal caregivers such as care managers, home care companies or other long term care advisors. The responsibility for recognizing home care challenges and solving them is shouldered by the team of specialists and advisors that have been invited in to offer their help.

Presented by Tracy W Mitchell

Plan for Eldercare Now Before the Choice Is No Longer Yours

 

We spend our lives making plans and preparing for future events. From the beginning we plan and work towards education, a career, marriage and a family. We work hard and save, invest and build our assets. We insure to protect our home, automobiles, health and medical needs.

 

Retirement age comes and our plan is finally in place. Finances and time have come together to allow us to enjoy the elder years of life. This is where the planning ends. But life does not end at retirement. There is a portion of life that the majority of us will live through after the retirement years called “eldercare.”

 

Very few of us plan for this part of our life, but yet it is as important if not more important to plan for it. If we don’t, we are leaving our last years in someone else’s hands. As much as children love us and mean to do right by us, they cannot possibly know what we want if they are not told.

 

Ruby, age 80, lost her husband. She had cared for him at home after his stroke. Understandably, she felt lost and depressed after his death. An inner ear infection caused Ruby to lose her balance and fall, breaking her hip. While she was in the hospital recuperating from surgery, Ruby’s children were deciding her future.

 

Concerned for her health and safety they moved some of her belongings to an assisted care facility. Upon Ruby’s release from the hospital she was taken to her new home at the facility. Between pain medication and the unfamiliar surroundings, Ruby never was herself again. She spent her last days asking what had happened to her home and belongings. Though her children had her best interest at heart, they did not know how Ruby wanted to spend her elder days.

 

An article on the AARP website titled, “Talking about Independent Living” states, “Research has shown that, as people age, they prefer to continue living independently, preferably in their own homes. While adult children often worry about their parent’s situation, it can be difficult to know if parents really need, or want, help from their children.”

 

Children and parents should talk about all these things.

 

What do you want your children, or friends to do on your behalf? When it comes time for them to help, you may not be physically or mentally able to execute your wishes. This is where your long term care plan comes into effect. You need to be the responsible person for your own personal care in the future.

 

The time to start planning is now. Don’t wait until the choice is no longer yours!

 

 

 

Presented by Tracy W Mitchell

Using a Specialist to Prepare Financially for Long Term Care

 

Long Term Care Insurance Specialist

Increasingly we see insurance agents or financial advisers that are specializing solely in the sale of long term care insurance. Not only is long term care insurance a complicated product but companies are constantly coming out with new products as well. A person selling long term care insurance also needs to have an understanding of what long term care is in order to make suitable recommendations to people buying the insurance.

 

Most insurance agents and financial planners simply don’t have the time to keep up with these issues and that is why some practitioners have specialized exclusively in long term care. Here are the advantages of using a specialist.

 

• The specialist often represents more than one long term care insurance company and can find the company with the best benefits and the best price.
• The specialist often has experience with a number of companies and can recommend those that are good at paying claims, are expected to continue selling long term care insurance or are prone to rate increases.
• The specialist has experience with medical problems involved in the issue and underwriting of long term care insurance and he or she can find the right company for underwriting or help to get the insurance through the underwriting in a chosen company.
• Specialists are generally experts in understanding long term care issues, especially those specialists certified to sell partnership policies. Because of this knowledge, the specialist can recommend the best coverage to dovetail with the insured’s assets, income and desires for care settings and services.
• Many specialists work with a team of eldercare advisers such as care managers, pre-need funeral planners, elder law attorneys, home health providers, retirement financial planners and reverse mortgage specialists. This allows them to help the pre-retirement generation with long term care insurance and retirement planning and also help the parents of those people with elder care needs.Elder Financial Advisor
• (Your name) is a financial practitioner who specializes in helping people prepare financially for long term care. (Your name) can be reached at (your contact information).
• An elder financial advisor is also likely to work with a team of eldercare advisers such as care managers, pre-need funeral planners, long-term care insurance specialists, reverse mortgage specialists and home health providers.
• This person will work closely with an estate planning or elder law attorney to make sure all arrangements for the estate, for disability, for loss of capacity, for medical treatment and for long-term care are covered.
• A financial planner or advisor who works with the elderly is going to understand how to invest assets for that age group. This person will also understand how to use assets and income when there is a need for long-term care.

Presented by Tracy Wayne Mitchell

Who Was Supposed To Be Watching Grandma?

There is a popular tune played this time of year called “Grandma Got Run Over by A Reindeer” which relates that Grandma — after drinking too much eggnog — went out into the winter cold to get her medication and was run over by a reindeer. The question is, “Who was supposed to be watching Grandma?”

Though this little tune is just for fun, it may very well raise alarms to many caregivers of the elderly. Caregivers know that even at a holiday party they cannot let down their diligent watch over their elderly loved one. As far-fetched as it may sound, with all the people and noise, an elderly family member with dementia or Alzheimer’s may be enjoying the family gathering and then suddenly become confused and walk to the door and leave.

For family caregivers the added stress of the holidays with decorating, shopping, parties and keeping up with all the family traditions is an overwhelming quest. Feelings of isolation, depression and sadness come with this added stress. There are millions of Americans who are caring for elderly frail loved ones and most of these caregivers will go through some of these emotions, especially this time of year.

There are some things you can do as a caregiver to help you and those you care for enjoy the holiday season.

First take care of yourself. Try to eat right, get plenty of sleep and exercise. This will help reduce stress and strengthen your ability to cope with caregiving responsibilities.

Prioritize your holiday traditions. Perhaps instead of cooking a large family dinner, have everyone bring his or her favorite dish. Use paper plates. Forfeit the traditional outside light decorating for a lighted wreath on the front door. Choose one or two parties or concerts to attend instead of trying to do it all.

Arrange for help. Call on other family members to help with the caregiving while you do your shopping or go out for the evening. If family is not available, ask your church group or a neighbor if they would donate a few hours.

Use community services. Many senior centers provide meals for the elderly and supervised activities, onsite, at no charge or a minimal charge. For locating senior services in your state, call your state Area Agency on Aging or check the national locator website at http://www.n4a.org/

Use adult day care services. Some assisted living facilities provide day activities and meals for seniors on a day by day basis. Other organizations called “adult day service providers” specialize exclusively in this sort of care support at a reasonable cost. These support services provide respite for caregivers from their caregiving responsibilities as well as social interaction for their elderly family members. There is a cost for adult day services, but the benefit for all is worth it.

For example:

Jean had brought her mother into her home to care for her when mom’s Alzheimer’s made it impossible for her to be alone. When the Christmas season approached, Jean realized she had to make some choices. She did not want to give up the traditions she had set with her daughters in shopping and lunches, but it wouldn’t be possible with her caregiving responsibilities. In searching for a solution, Jean visited an adult day services facility near her home. She found she could schedule the days she needed off for her mother to come in. The adult day services company also provided transportation and would pick up mom and bring her home in the evening.

Although Jean’s mother was not sure she would like to go at first, she found she enjoyed the programs, meals and conversation with new friends and the activities provided.

The time it gave Jean to have for herself was worth the extra cost for the day care.

Technology to the rescue. Here is a solution that would have kept “Grandma” from going out in the winter cold and getting run over by a reindeer. Companies that have created monitoring systems, security alarms and other safety equipment are “tweaking” them to adapt to the needs of seniors and their care givers.

Here are a few examples:

• Ankle or wrist bands that monitor location and alert the provider when a person has gone beyond the designated perimeter, such as out the front door of the house.
• Motion detectors. Set throughout the home, motion detectors allow someone outside the home to follow a senior as he or she moves through the house.
• Smart medication dispensers. Live monitoring and dispensing of pills.
• Emergency response alert. At a touch of a button on a desktop monitor, bracelet or necklace, emergency help is summoned.

Whether providing care in your home or helping senior family members in their own homes, your use of monitoring and “tech” help aids can provide extra safety for your loved ones, and peace of mind for you.

You are not alone. Join a caregiving help group. Your local senior center may have one or go on the internet to find one. Hearing about other caregivers’ problems and solutions and being able to share your own and ask questions is a great way to relieve stress and gain a new perspective. Check out websites like the National Family Caregivers Association at http://www.nfcacares.org/

Work with a Senior Care Professional. Recognize that you are doing the very best you know how. You are not a geriatric health care practitioner, geriatric care manager, home care nurse or aide, hospice provider or family mediation counselor, nor do you have the years of training and experience these professionals have, but you can definitely use their experience. In fact, using asenior care specialist will make caregiving easier for you and more beneficial for your elderly family member.

As an example:

Mark stopped by his father Dan’s home every night after work to help with any errands or things he needed around the house. He began to notice that Dan was not showering, dressing or even fixing meals some days. Another concern was his father’s growing confusion and disorientation. A trip to the family doctor only brought more concern to Mark, since the doctor claimed it was just the aging process that caused the confusion.

Wanting a second professional opinion on what was best for his father, Mark hired Shelly — a Professional Geriatric Care Manger — to do an assessment. Shelly arranged for Mark and Dan to see a geriatrician, who advised that proper meals and an increase in some vitamins, would help clear up the confusion and disorientation. Shelly arranged for a home care company to come in daily to help with personal needs and prepare meals.

Soon Dan was back to his old self and able to function on his own.

You can find a wide variety of care professionals in your area on the National Care Planning Council website at www.longtermcarelink.net.

One more thing to remember. As a family caregiver, the greatest gift you are giving this holiday season is “Love.”

Presented by Tracy Wayne Mitchell

Attitudes towards Aging often Affect the Health of Those Receiving Long Term Care

 

Among all of the suggestions available to caregivers for coping with the care of a loved one, some simple strategies that influence the attitude of care recipients are often neglected. Simply put, a more positive attitude towards aging can have a profound effect on the health of a care recipient.

 

Many elderly buy into the notion that they themselves are no longer useful and as a result make little attempt to keep themselves healthy and active. After all, they are getting closer to the end of their lives and have no desire to try new things or to challenge themselves or to eat or exercise properly.

 

There is a great deal of research evidence that demonstrates older people can learn, can retain memory and can be actively involved in business and in the community. The lack of physical exercise, social involvement and mental stimulation in older Americans often leads to these people losing the ability to use their minds and their bodies. The older person’s negative attitude towards aging becomes self-fulfilling.

 

Many studies show that older people who are physically active have less joint pain, lower blood pressure, less depression, fewer heart attacks and a lower incidence of cancer. Proper nutrition also has the same affect on the aging process; it delays the progression of debilitating illness or disability. Recent research even indicates that weight loss and exercise can reverse the severity of diabetes.

 

Lack of social stimulation can also lead to poor health. Having an interest in something not only stimulates an older person’s mind but also creates a better mental attitude which results often in better health. There is empirical evidence that using one’s brain may prevent dementia in older age.

 

Here are some suggestions that might help caregivers improve the health of someone suffering from chronic medical afflictions, depression or debilitating physical challenges.

 

• If it is feasible, provide hobbies.
• If it is feasible, promote exercise adjusted to the care recipient’s ability.
• Allow the care recipient to care for pets and plants even if he or she suffers from dementia. (Nursing homes have demonstrated that Alzheimer’s patients respond well to this therapy.)
• Provide music or allow the care recipient to sing or play an instrument. (Nursing homes have also shown this helps immensely with dementia patients.)
• Make the care recipient responsible for his or her own health
• Allow for interaction with grandchildren or small children.
• Provide the care recipient with challenging games or puzzles (sudoku, crosswords, trivia, card games, memory games etc.)
• Encourage the care recipient to read.
• Provide planned activities for the care recipient.
• Provide opportunities for volunteer work at home. (Many volunteer organizations can allow disabled folks at home to be involved through their computer and the Internet.)
• Provide special meals and formal table settings.Adult Day Centers and Senior Citizen Centers also offer all the above activities on a daily basis. Contact (your name) at (your contact information) to learn more about support services for people receiving long term care.

Presented by Tracy Wayne Mitchell

Using an Elder Law Attorney

 

As the population of the country ages, more people will run into legal or planning issues that are unique to seniors. This might include help with obtaining veterans’ pensions, Medicare or Medicaid. Other issues might include the need for long term care planning, solving disputes with family members, dealing with financial elder abuse, providing for powers of attorney, medical care planning or guardianship.

 

Elder Law attorneys represent a growing specialty of the law that helps the elderly deal with many of the problems mentioned above. But Elder Law attorneys can often do much more for their clients. Below is a list of services that an elder law attorney might provide. This list was taken from the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys’ website.

 

Below is a list of what an elder law attorney (lawyer) might do:

 

• Preservation or transfer of assets seeking to avoid spousal impoverishment when a spouse enters a nursing home
• Medicaid qualification and application and Medicaid planning strategies
• Medicare claims and appeals
• Social security and disability claims and appeals
• Supplemental and long term health insurance issues
• Disability planning, including use of durable powers of attorney, living trusts, “living wills,” for financial management and health care decisions, and other means of delegating management and decision-making to another in case of incompetency or incapacity
• Conservatorships and guardianships
• Estate planning, including planning for the management of one’s estate during life and its disposition on death through the use of trusts, wills and other planning documents
• Probate
• Administration and management of trusts and estates
• Long term care placements in nursing home and life care communities
• Nursing home issues including questions of patients’ rights and nursing home quality
• Elder abuse and fraud recovery cases
• Housing issues, including discrimination and home equity conversions (reverse mortgage)
• Age discrimination in employment
• Retirement, including public and private retirement benefits, survivor benefits and pension benefits
• Health law
• Mental health law(Your name) is an elder law attorney serving the (your area) area. (Your name) can be reached at (your contact information).