Recognizing the Value of Elder Law in Family Caregiving
If you care for a spouse, parent, or loved one, you know their struggles with healthcare, housing, finances, and long-term care. Family caregivers, typically close relatives who support an elderly or sick senior, are often overwhelmed when they try to make the final years of their loved one as relaxing and peaceful as possible.
Quality of caregiving gets more critical when a loved one is beginning to become older. At some point, preparations for the future will be necessary to ensure that their future and present wants and requirements will be met. With their experience, lawyers specializing in elder law will be able to assist in making caregiving more manageable.
In What Ways Can Elder Law Aid Family Caregivers?
Here are a few ways in which elder law and a knowledgeable lawyer can aid caregivers of elderly family members:
1. Long-Term Care Planning
Many families have conflicting views about the best care method for their loved ones. A lawyer specializing in elder law could provide an impartial opinion on developing an effective long-term plan since solid emotions don’t affect their decisions.
A nursing home attorney evaluates situations to decide whether the patient can be treated at home or if they would be more suited to long-term home care. Then, they investigate strategies to protect assets in anticipation of the possibility of long-term care.
2. Applying for Medicaid or Veterans Benefits
Other assets and medical expenses are considered when determining Medicaid eligibility. However, the details vary state-to-state. A seasoned elder law attorney can help you determine whether enrolling in Medicaid is the most appropriate option for your future, including how it could impact your financial options.
The aid and attendance benefit is intended to aid veterans with high long-term care costs. However, most veterans need to realize that they’re eligible. For advice, consult an attorney at Kelleher law firm with expertise in elder law on these and other government programs and resources that your loved ones could benefit from.
3. Creating a Living Trust
It’s only natural for your beloved person to want their possessions, such as their inheritance for family members or essential institutions. Planning for the estate is necessary for your loved one’s assets to be subject to probate.
However, they can control their assets using an estate plan known as a living trust. A special needs trust attorney can aid you navigating the legal requirements for establishing living trusts for children with special needs.
4. Placing a Durable Power of Attorney
You may be worried about your loved one’s health choices if they have Alzheimer’s or a different type of dementia. You may talk to an attorney with expertise in elder law to draft a durable power of attorney. This lets an appointed person make financial or medical decisions for your loved ones if they become incapable.
Suppose your family member was incapacitated without a durable power of attorney. In this scenario, an elder law attorney can assist you in initiating guardianship procedures that enable you or a guardian to oversee their personal and financial affairs.
5. Protecting Assets
Family members might benefit from consulting with lawyers specializing in elder law to learn how to recognize indicators of elder financial abuse. When loved ones slow down or lose their health, someone can gain an advantage by inviting them over or “helping out,” An untruthful adult might try to open financial accounts.
The wealth of the client must be protected from dishonest criminals. A lawyer specializing in elder law can help authorities detect fraud or criminal behavior and assist the client or their family.
Conclusion
Our senior family members are dear to us. To show appreciation and thankfulness, we should properly care for them, particularly their health and essential needs. It is also vital to safeguard other aspects of their lives, like property and liberty. Elder law is vital in protecting your loved family members. Therefore, the help you want and can provide can make a massive impact on the lives of the elderly.
