For children with elderly parents residing in a nursing home or extended care facility, you may be surprised to know that in some states and in some situations, you could potentially be required to pay for your parents nursing home expenses. About 30 states, including California, have laws that impose some kind of a duty for children to pay for their parent's nursing home expenses if the parent is indigent and if the child has funds. In about 20 of the states with these “filial … [Read more...] about Your Parent’s Nursing Home Might Sue You
Elder Law
How To Manage Long Term Care Costs
Placing a loved one in a nursing home is difficult enough without having to worry about the tremendous expense involved with it. Oftentimes, these costs are significant enough to deplete most, if not all, of the assets of the individual. When a nursing home is the only option, the extra expense has to be met somehow. So what can you do to keep these expense down? It is tempting to allow the nursing home staff to attend to your loved one’s every needs. But this is the same as employing a … [Read more...] about How To Manage Long Term Care Costs
Confronting Medi-Cal Myths
When it comes to Medi-Cal planning, there’s a lot of misinformation that circulates. Here are a few common myths we have heard: Medicare will cover my nursing home expenses, so I don’t need to worry about Medi-Cal. This is not true – - Medicare only covers very few, limited long term care expenses. So, unless you have long-term care insurance or can afford to pay for your care out-of-pocket, you’ll need to find out about Medi-Cal and other public benefits. In order to qualify for … [Read more...] about Confronting Medi-Cal Myths
What is a Conservatorship?
If you have an elderly family member or loved one that is in declining physical or mental health, you may wish to consider seeking an appointment as a conservator of the person’s estate. But of course, there's a lot to think about if you want to go down this path. Not only are you taking on a lot of responsibility, but your loved one may not agree with your decision. Before deciding whether or not to seek guardianship or conservatorship, a basic understanding of the difference between the … [Read more...] about What is a Conservatorship?
Seniors – How to Avoid Holiday Scams
During the holidays most people make an extra effort to be friendly and embrace the spirit of the season. Unfortunately, scam artists make a point of using the holiday spirit to target people – and these predators frequently target the elderly. Below we'll explain how seniors can avoid becoming the victim of a holiday scam. Why Are Seniors Common Targets of Holiday Scams? There are several reasons why scam artists are more active during the holidays. First, it is the busiest shopping … [Read more...] about Seniors – How to Avoid Holiday Scams
Elder Sexual Abuse – Is a Loved One at Risk?
Elder abuse is certainly not a new phenomenon; however, a larger elderly population coupled with increased awareness has brought the issue of elder abuse to the forefront of the American consciousness. When most people think of elder abuse, they tend to focus on the threat of physical abuse or emotional neglect. However, there is another type of elder abuse that frequently is not discussed -- elder sexual abuse. What You Need to Know about Elder Sexual Abuse Sadly, the elderly often make … [Read more...] about Elder Sexual Abuse – Is a Loved One at Risk?
Medi-Cal Planning — Start Now
As we age, the cost of medical care almost universally increases. Even in good health, we simply need more care as a rule. If our health is not good, medical care can cost a small fortune. If you, or a loved one, requires nursing home care, the monthly cost can easily exceed $10,000. This often leaves people between the proverbial rock and a hard place. If you have a multi-million dollar estate then you may be able to pay for costs such as this out of pocket. If you are living below the poverty … [Read more...] about Medi-Cal Planning — Start Now
Our Available Services During COVID-19/Coronavirus Pandemic
The health and safety of our clients, staff, and friends of the law firm are top of mind amid concerns about the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). As estate planning and elder law attorneys, our practice is dedicated to serving our most vulnerable citizens, including seniors, those who are ill, disabled, experiencing mental health challenges and children with special needs. The uncertainty around the pandemic has many people with immune system challenges concerned about exposure to the … [Read more...] about Our Available Services During COVID-19/Coronavirus Pandemic
Help with Healthcare Costs — Medicaid (aka Medi-Cal) and Medicare
If you have an elderly loved one who is living on a fixed income, and also has regular monthly medical expenses, those expenses may be adding up quickly. If your loved one is lucky enough to have private healthcare coverage, then he or she is better off than many elderly Americans. Unfortunately, many of America’s elderly struggle with both the rising cost of healthcare and the increased need for medical services as a result of the natural aging process. Two government programs--Medicaid (called … [Read more...] about Help with Healthcare Costs — Medicaid (aka Medi-Cal) and Medicare
Steps to Take after an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
As the population of older Americans continues to grow at a historic rate, the number of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease grows as well. Despite efforts to raise awareness about the disease, it remains somewhat of a mystery to most of us. Consequently, if you are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, you may not know what to do. To help you regain some of the control you may feel you lost with the diagnosis, let's explore some practical steps to take after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. What Is … [Read more...] about Steps to Take after an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
