Elder Law

Making the decision to place a loved one in a dementia care facility is an emotional and difficult process. Choosing the right facility for a dementia patient is one of the top priorities for many families. Because the process can be overwhelming, it helps to have an advocate on your side who understands the process and who has experience dealing with long-term care for dementia patients.

7 Tips for Choosing a Trustee

So, you are setting up a living trust. You know what assets you want to put into the trust and who you want to give them to one day. You have worked out a strategy to reward your beneficiaries for things like getting a college degree. You have mapped out your financial future and provided for your loved ones. But you still need to name the person who will manage your trust and distribute your assets after you die, and possibly handle your financial affairs during your lifetime.

Long-term care could be one of the most daunting expenses you ever face. You should consider this cost when you are strategizing for your financial future. You need to know what Medicare will pay for your long-term care and what other resources are available. Let’s talk about understanding Medicare for long-term care planning.

Every state creates and operates its own Medicaid program using state and federal funds. Medi-Cal is the California Medicaid program. If you live in California and you need health care, you may want to explore your options for Read more . . .

How can I plan for the expenses I may incur as I age?

With ever increasing medical advancements, people today are living far longer than our ancestors.  Since just the 1970’s, life spans have increased more than a decade.  While living longer is surely a blessing, it can come at high financial costs.  It is believed that by 2022 there will be at least 4.3 million seniors living in poverty or near poverty.
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A horrific story hits the news. An aging Californian has been the victim of abuse, either at home or in a nursing home. Your stomach turns. You have elderly loved ones. How can you know if someone is abusing them? You need information to help you in Read more . . .

Most people hope that when they retire, they will have no financial worries. The reality is, too many people are left without sufficient resources to provide for their healthcare needs. Medicaid was put into place to address this reality, providing coverage for certain medical needs to those without sufficient assets.

Medicaid does have certain maximum income and asset restrictions that need to be understood before you apply. If you have too many assets or too high of an income, you may be denied, or you may be forced to sell some of those assets to repay Medicaid or qualify for those benefits.

Not many people talk about long-term care, but they should. As the first batch of baby boomers hit the big 65, the conversation will likely gain more traction.

Insurance policies that cover extended nursing care make sense. After all, nursing care and home staff services are expensive. These costs can burn through your savings, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions, becoming more than your family and friends can handle.
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You’ve probably heard this before, “You should definitely avoid probate.” Ever wondered what is probate and what makes it so bad you should avoid it at all costs? We’ll tell you why, but first...

What is probate?

Probate is the legal process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed according to his/her will or according to law.
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When you place your loved on in a care facility, you expect the people charged with the care of your loved one to provide the best possible care. The last thing you expect is for them to neglect your loved one or expose them to serious danger.

How can we protect our loved ones from elder abuse?

No one expects their loved ones to be abused or neglected when they trust a care facility to look after them. Unfortunately, with the rise in our elderly population and the expanding need for elder care, too many elder care facilities are popping up with insufficient training and staff to cover their needs.

Sadly, this situation recently arose in Napa, where Golden LivingCenter is being sued for