BackElder Law: An Unexpected Resource in Finding Care
Article submitted by Osterhout, McKinney and Prather, member firm of the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association and the National Association of Elder Law. They can be reached at 239-939-4888OR visit website www.omplaw.com.
Most adult children are unprepared for when a parent becomes ill and needs care. Our parents often have legal documents such as their wills in place but they too, are often unprepared when illness strikes. The adult child is usually thrust into the uncomfortable role of being the decision maker for their parent.
Life Care Planning provides the professional expertise to help families find and pay for quality care. Life Care Planning transcends the typical client/attorney consultative relationship to a comprehensive team approach to client needs. The team consists of an Elder Law Attorney, Life Care Coordinator and legal assistants knowledgeable in the areas of estate planning, public benefits, Medicaid and community services. The goal of Life Care Planning is to reduce the financial burden of an illness while finding and ensuring appropriate care is provided.
The Elder Law Attorney is uniquely qualified to assist clients in negotiating the complex system of public benefits, estate and trust planning, Medicaid/Medicare benefits, tax law, probate patient rights and, when necessary, guardianship.
The Life Care Coordinator has special training in aging and is a resource specialist that assists clients with finding the right type of care to meet their needs within their expressed goals.
The first step in Life Care Planning is a meeting between the client, Elder law Attorney and Life Care Coordinator, to establish goals, determine the client's ability to pay for care needs and assess their legal needs and eligibility for benefits such as Medicare, Medicaid and Veterans benefits.
The second step is a visit from the Life Care Coordinator to where the client resides to conduct a comprehensive gerontological assessment that identifies immediate care needs and important considerations for future planning. The Life Care Coordinator can help answer questions such as; Can mom or dad continue to live at home with assistance? What type of help is available to supervise medications and prepare meals? How about the future, when residing at home is no longer possible? What next? A retirement community, assisted living or a nursing home?
The third step is providing a plan for the client on how to provide for care for life within the client's current income and resource limitations. The Life Care Plan includes:
- Specific quality recommendations for care needs, i.e, home health services, adult day care, homemaker, assisted living and nursing home services are just a few.
- Concrete legal strategies to qualify for benefits to pay for care and protect assets.
- All legal documents necessary to ensure that the client's wishes are met regarding healthcare, finances, and distribution of assets when the time comes.
Life Care Planning services particularly benefit a senior with a health condition that has the potential to impact their ability to care for themselves. The goal is to maximize resources to provide the best care possible.
Caregivers also benefit from the support offered by the Life Care Coordinator in finding and securing quality care and having a knowledgeable professional to turn to when problems arise. Families have peace of mind knowing that professional/expert advice is a phone call away for the rest of their loved ones life.
For more information on Life Care Planning call 239-939-4888OR visit our website www.omplaw.com.