The laws regarding elder care often change as the aging population grows, leading to confusion and misinformation. Elder care attorneys provide legal advice to families about the many different aspects of a senior’s life—including housing options, health care, estate planning, and public benefits. They differ from traditional attorneys because they specialize in an area of legal practice that places emphasis on issues that affect the aging population. When thinking about your senior loved one’s legal future, there are several important services an elder care attorney can provide.
Estate Planning
Creating appropriate estate planning documents, such as wills and trusts, ensures a person’s assets will be left to his or her intended beneficiaries. Elder law attorneys focus on integrating estate planning with other goals that are important to a senior, such as protection of assets from long-term care costs, qualification for veteran’s benefits, or other public benefits.
Finding an elder law attorney can be difficult for family caregivers who have other important tasks to tend to. Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Opelika, AL, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Home Care Assistance. Using our proprietary Balanced Care Method, our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity.
Locating Resources for Care & Assistance
Elder care attorneys are familiar with local networks of services and providers, appropriate state and federally funded programs, and home care agencies that provide the services and support needed by seniors and their families.
Assisting with Qualification & Application for Public Benefits
There are many public benefit programs available to assist low-income and low-asset elders with the care they need. Public benefit programs and eligibility requirements constantly change, and elder law attorneys are always up to date with the current laws and regulations.
Some aging adults may qualify for benefits that cover the cost of home care. Seniors can face a variety of challenges as they age, many of which can be mitigated with the help of professional in-home caregivers who provide high-quality senior care. Trust Home Care Assistance to help your elderly loved one age in place safely and comfortably.
Guardianship & Conservatorship
When a senior is no longer able to make his or her own decisions, an elder care attorney can assist family members in obtaining authority from the court to make decisions on the senior’s behalf. Decisions relating to their assets require a conservatorship, and all other personal decisions may require a guardianship, also known as power of attorney.
Educating Seniors & Family Members
One of the most important services elder care attorneys provide is educating seniors and their families about current resources, laws and regulations, and planning strategies that are appropriate for each individual client. If your loved one isn’t able to afford an elder care attorney, check with your local county for grants offered through the county’s aging department or local nonprofit organizations.
Elder law attorneys can help with legal issues, but some seniors also need assistance with daily tasks at home. Aging adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living can benefit from reliable home care service. Opelika, AL, families trust Home Care Assistance to provide the high-quality care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. Our caregivers are trained to help seniors prevent and manage serious illnesses and encourage them to make healthier decisions as they age. If your loved one needs help with the challenges of aging, call one of our compassionate Care Managers today at (334) 744-7100.