New Jersey Elder Care Planning Lawyer

Elder Care Planning

There are a number of things that can cause us to need long-term care. Long-term care is a very broad term. It includes a wide array of services and support for any medical, personal, or social needs. Causes for long-term care can range from severe mental or physical aspects—like a stroke or depression—to simple frailty. In fact, in every group of five, three people will require long-term care. And while a majority of those in need (and their families) often fail to adequately prepare for that need, and that can (and does) lead to severe great physical and emotional stress, and burnout for caregivers. This, in turn, can even lead to disagreements and disputes among family members that can last a lifetime.

A key concern for the elderly is receiving the medical care they need as they age. A related concern is not jeopardizing a family’s assets, which many of our clients hope to pass on to their children. The costs of health care continue to rise, which makes accomplishing both goals increasingly difficult for our clients.

It all can be avoided, however, just by planning things out properly, and we can help.

At Scott Counsel, P.C. we will sit down with you to discuss your specific needs and put them in what we call a Life Care Plan. This will outline what those needs are, and what resources you might need in order to meet them. Taking the time to do these things will help you or your family members to better be prepared for the final years of life by optimizing your resources to, again, meet your or your loved one’s specific needs.

Our New Jersey elder care lawyers understand all the techniques for getting the care out clients need most while, at the same time, preserving ownership of the family home. To learn more, please contact us to schedule an appointment.

Medicaid Planning

Medicaid can pay for a nursing home stay. However, the program is means-tested, and many people know that the state is aggressive at limiting who can enroll. Medicaid planning is a deliberative process with many goals.

One concern is qualifying for the program. We can put assets or income in a trust which shields it from counting against our client for eligibility purposes. Our clients can then use these trust assets for other expenses.

Another concern is protecting a family home. If you simply deed it to your children, New Jersey might disqualify you from Medicaid benefits for years. The state could also come after your home when you die. Proper planning today can increase the odds of passing your home onto your children.

As with estate planning—and every other part of elder care, there is a lot to unpack here. When it comes to Medicaid, there is no doubt that you will likely have a lot of questions. That’s okay, because we have a lot of answers here.

We know that, as a person gets older, he or she has a great many concerns about a great many things—not the least of which are the following:

• Retaining independence
• Having an adequate amount of money, and
• Staying in good health

Let’s take a look at some of the things our care plans will cover. A great Life Care Plan includes taking the following things into account:

• Income
• Assets
• Health
• Support
• Shelter

Long-Term Care Planning

The cost of a single room in a nursing home in New Jersey exceeds $10,000 a month. With a price tag that steep, many people naturally dread being sent to a nursing home. However, there are steps we can take to help our clients prepare for this possible event.

For example, we can discuss buying long-term care insurance. These policies can defray the cost of care in a skilled nursing facility, which means fewer personal assets need to be sold to cover the cost.

Many of our clients also need help selecting a facility for Mom or Dad. This is a key concern, because not all nursing homes have a great safety record in the Garden State.

Guardianship

A guardian can protect a senior who can no longer make decisions due to infirmity or incapacity:

• Manage a ward’s day to day activities
• Take control of the ward’s finances, such as paying bills and depositing checks
• Make medical decisions for the ward, such as when to go into a nursing home

A guardianship can be limited to only those decisions which are necessary to enhance a senior’s wellbeing. This is a court-approved process, and our legal team can help.

Elder Abuse or Neglect

About 10% of seniors will suffer abuse, either at the hands of nursing home staff or family members. Elder abuse and neglect require an immediate response. If left unprotected, seniors can suffer devastating and possibly life-threatening illnesses or injuries. We can sue to protect your loved one’s safety and seek compensation for injuries.

When you create a Life Care Plan with us, we will look into each of these and more as we figure out together the best course of action for you and your family. You’ll see it time and time again around the site and in the testimonies of others we have helped, but people matter here at Scott Counsel. We want to show you that from the first moment you walk into our office, and in how your individual case is handled with the utmost care, respect, and professionalism from everyone involved in it.

Again, we at Scott Counsel want to do our very best for you because, not only is it what you expect, but it’s what you and your family deserve—our very best. That begins with crafting a Care Plan tailored to meeting your needs and then implementing that plan and meeting them. It may seem overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t have to be; we will help guide you along each and every step of the way. Whatever goals you may have when it comes to the care of your loved ones, a solid care plan will lay the groundwork for the long road ahead, and then we will work on reaching those goals together.

Our New Jersey elder care lawyers are standing by to assist in any way we can. The sooner you get started, the more options you will have for obtaining the care you need. Call us today, at (856) 281-3131, to schedule a free consultation.