Ours is an aging population. The baby boom of the mid 1900’s and advances in medical care have changed the face of our society, making senior citizens the growing majority of the American population. Elder law is a growing field that focuses on the legal needs of these older citizens.
Some common aspects of elder law include:
Estate Planning
An elder law attorney can help you plan your estate. This mean making all arrangements for your assets after you have passed away. With the help of your attorney you can set up a Last Will and Testament or a Revocable Living Trust to dictate how your estate will be divided among your heirs upon your death.
Incapacity Planning
Estate planning is not limited to death-related decisions. Your plan can also include documents that ensure you and your assets are protected in the event you can no longer speak on your own behalf. If you should become incapacited, Advanced Directives can tell your healthcare providers what types of medical treatments you do or don’t want plus grant authority to people of your choosing to act as your personal representative in medical and/or financial matters.
Incapacity planning also addresses the issue of guardianship, enabling you to determine how you want to be cared for when you can no longer care for yourself.
Health Care Planning
Elder law also deals with your healthcare, specifically Medicare and/or Medicaid. Your health care plan may also include provisions for long term care either in your own home, in an assisted living facility or in a nursing home.
Elderly Rights
Elderly rights focuses on how an elderly person may be treated in regards to their work place, their health care and their long term facility care. As an elderly person, you have all the same rights as any other citizen. You cannot be treated differently in your place of employment based upon your age. If you live in a nursing home, you cannot be robbed of any of your personal freedoms including privacy and right to make your own decisions. Elder law attorneys ensure that the rights of elderly citizens are not violated.
If you or a loved one need assistance with elder law issues, contact our office today.
Paul A. Kraft, Estate Planning Attorney
Mr. Kraft assists clients primarily in the areas of estate planning and administration, Medicaid planning, federal and state taxation, real estate and corporate law, bringing the added perspective of an accounting background to his work.
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