When most people make an estate plan, they think about how that plan can help take care of their spouse and future generations when they pass. But careful estate planning can also protect you from ruinous medical costs in the later years of your life.
In addition to arranging for the transfer of your assets after you’re gone, your estate plan can also help you qualify for long-term care programs such as Medicaid.
Making the decision to place a loved one within a nursing home or assisted living facility is not always an easy one. There are many factors to consider when making this change. However, the best decision is a well-researched one.
Not only should you conduct thorough research into your options. But, never ignore what your gut feeling is telling you about a place. You don’t want to find out later that the facility is mistreating their residents or taking advantage of them in any way.
A well drafted estate plan gives the owner a unique peace of mind as they make their way through life. The plan holder knows that they will not leave any questions for their friends and family regarding their affairs, their wishes and their assets. Trusts and wills are generally two of the first things individuals think of when they consider estate planning, but powers of attorney are equally as important.
In an earlier blog we discussed the value of health care directives in an estate plan. Here we will go over how power of attorney ties into that matter, though it does not have to, and how power of attorney can be used to manage your financial affairs.
A recent study found people aged 65 and older are filing for bankruptcy at three times the rate as they were in 1991. The New York Times states of the people from ages 65 to 74, 3.6 out of 1000 file for bankruptcy. The study suggests this increase is due to changes like moving from pensions to 401(k)s, more spending on health care and having to wait for full Social Security benefits.
Seniors who have a pension or retirement savings have sacrificed and worked hard their entire life to earn this money.
Unfortunately, there are many scams that target senior citizens and try to steal this hard-earned income.
Medicaid planning for an elderly loved one includes first determining eligibility status for the many services they may need. The planning process will help pave the way for a tailored plan that meets the healthcare needs of the individual. The process may include gathering important documents, submitting required paperwork and financial information of the potential Medicaid recipient.
Family members of an elderly loved one are encouraged to participate in the Medicaid planning process. Long-term care is often too costly for families and Medicaid offers a more affordable alternative solution.
As parents age, the family dynamic changes.
Role reversals take place as sons and daughters become the parents, and the parents – in their declining physical and mental state – may become the child.
The facts can be quite sobering. It’s estimated that 70 percent of Americans will require long-term care of some kind in their lives. If you become part of that group, your long-term care cost could be roughly $138,000 over your lifetime. And if you’re like most people, you haven’t done any long-term care planning.
Planning for long-term care as part of your retirement planning can bring you peace of mind. No one wants to consider the possibility of having an injury or debilitating illness that would necessitate long-term care, but having a plan—just in case—can help ensure you will be well cared for.
Children rarely anticipate that they will one day need to care for their elderly parents. Still, this is inevitable for many families--especially for adult children whose parents have Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or another disease that induces dementia. If your parent has one of these illnesses, it may soon be time to step in as their caretaker.
Many people find this overwhelming, particularly because of the numerous legal decisions that inevitably occur. One way to make these issues easier to handle is to prepare for them in advance. If you are caring for an adult who has dementia, you may want to learn about some of the legal issues that you and your parent could face in the future.
It’s a sad story that plays out far too often these days. Someone takes advantage of a senior, draining bank accounts, spending the very money they offered to manage. Often, these cases of financial exploitation involve family members or caregivers.
Financial exploitation of seniors is a rising problem throughout the country and is a large focus of law enforcement. New Hampshire, with its growing senior population, will have a mounting problem, as 1 in 20 seniors report some sort of financial exploitation.
Ambrogi Law Office PLLC
722 Pine Street
Manchester,
NH
03104
Phone:
603-421-6434
Fax:
603-782-3019
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