When your spouse suddenly needs nursing home care or full-time care at home, it can be emotionally draining and frightening because of the fear that all your hard earned life’s savings will be at risk. However, if you get the advice you need from an experienced elder law attorney, the average family should not have to lose their assets and can keep their home, their car, and in most cases all of their financial assets. That bears repeating. For the average couple, all of their assets can probably be protected if they are represented by an attorney who knows the Medicaid rules, and who is representing them.

When families are faced with a loved one who is in the final stages of life, the anguish and stress can be almost unbearable. Hospice is a service that can help the whole family, including the one near death, cope with the final months or days of life. Every family we have met that used hospice has been very grateful for the support and comfort and advice given, not only to the person dying, but to the whole family.

If your family is facing the need for long term care at home, or in a nursing home, one of the first things that comes to mind is do you need the help of an elder law attorney. The big concern is what kind of care is needed. The second is can care be at home, in an assisted living facility, or a nursing home. The third is “how are we going to pay for that care?” The variety of programs for homecare, assisting living and nursing home care, and the qualifications to receive federal, state, or veterans benefits to pay for that, often results in a jig saw puzzle that leads to confusion and frustration. A bonafide elder law attorney will devote most or all his or her practice to elder law issues, and will have staff that understands the problems faced by families, and the solutions. So how can you select a competent elder law attorney?

A general overview for elders from a legal standpoint includes making financial, legal, and health care decisions if the elder person became incapable, to pass on property to heirs upon death, getting the best possible long term care if needed, preferably at home, and preserving your life’s savings for yourself and your family.

If your family is facing the need for long term care at home, or in a nursing home, one of the first things that comes to mind is do you need the help of an elder law attorney. The big concern is what kind of care is needed. The second is can care be at home, in an assisted living facility, or a nursing home. The third is “how are we going to pay for that care?” The variety of programs for homecare, assisting living and nursing home care, and the qualifications to receive federal, state, or veterans benefits to pay for that, often results in a jig saw puzzle that leads to confusion and frustration. A bonafide elder law attorney will devote most or all his or her practice to elder law issues, and will have staff that understands the problems faced by families, and the solutions. So how can you select a competent elder law attorney?

Seniors are a special target for criminals seeking to scam them out of their hard earned life’s savings. The scammers are clever and relentless and prey on the normal human instinct to protect themselves and their families from financial loss, or the desire to cash in on some offer that seems too good to be true. So if you get a phone call, or an email either threatening that unless you pay some debt, or can win thousands of dollars if you just give some information, STOP. Do not give out your private information, such as social security number, date of birth, financial information, or family names and addresses.