There are many situations in which an elderly person—or the loved ones of an elderly person—could benefit from having an attorney advocate. Elder law attorneys handle a wide range of legal issues which affect older individuals or those who are disabled. These issues can include:

• Health care matters
• Planning for long-term care
• Retirement issues
• Potential guardianship matters
• Issues related to Social Security
• Issues related to Medicare and Medicaid
• Wills and trusts
• Other important matters related to the elderly or disabled

The needs of the elderly, whether financial, medical, or those related to estate planning, are often different—more specialized—than those which focus on the needs of younger individuals. Elder law attorneys are able to address the challenging situations related specifically to the elderly, with care, specialized knowledge and skill.

Perhaps you need to discuss estate planning at this juncture in your life. You may have put it off for one reason or another, and now feel a bit overwhelmed as well as feeling a sense of urgency due to your age. Whether you need a will, a revocable or irrevocable living trust or you need to discuss planning for an adult child with special needs or probate proceedings, an experienced elder law attorney can help. An elder law attorney can draft a durable power of attorney or a health care power of attorney, and can help with health care and planning issues such as patient rights, Medicare/Medicaid, and long-term care.

Medicaid, in particular, can be extremely complex, especially because the laws change fairly often. Nursing home costs can quickly deplete the savings of a family, as well as the inheritance planned for surviving relatives. Unlike Medicare, Medicaid can cover many of the expenses of long-term care if planned for in advance. Many people believe they can simply transfer their assets to a relative once they need to qualify for Medicaid, not realizing that Medicaid has a “look back” period. A qualified elder law attorney can help families protect assets, qualifying the elderly person for Medicaid.

Many times, the elderly have special financial needs, and could benefit from financial planning which could include gift tax issues, housing opportunities and income and expenses. If long-term care is needed, your elder law attorney can help locate the best long-term care facility, while also helping the elderly person and his or her family members manage the cost of such a facility. If your loved one is in a nursing home, and elder law attorney can explain nursing home resident rights, and help file nursing home abuse claims.

Contact Our Denver Elder Law Attorneys

If you or someone you love has questions regarding disability or settlement planning, elder law, public administration or fiduciary services, we can help. Contact the attorneys at Frazer-Abel Law, LLC today for a consultation and review by calling 720-638-1465, or by filling out the contact form on this page. We can answer your questions and help protect you or your loved one’s estate.