Elder law attorneys help families navigate legal maze, preserve assets 

With people living longer than ever, end of life planning today is not just the question of ‘what happens when I die?’; it also concerns itself with a more complicated question: What happens if I live and need care?

Elder Law Attorney Dennis Toman of Greensboro, North Carolina, says people increasingly need to plan for their future care and that is where the relatively new discipline of elder law comes into play.

“Boomers and seniors without effective elder law planning are like a person who is walking a high wire without a safety net. If they have a bad car accident, stroke, or suffer Alzheimer’s or another debilitating illness, they are going to fall off that high wire to disastrous legal, financial, and health care problems, that will have a devastating effect to them and their family,” Toman said.

One example: A husband who insisted that his estate planning was complete with just a Will, cost his wife tremendous hardship and headache, not to mention financial turmoil. After suffering a severe stroke, he needed a court appointed guardian to make medical and financial decisions. That involved extra expense, red tape and court proceedings that could have been avoided by having the right power of attorney in place.

Another common problem is the cost of a nursing home. “Many people need help when paying the high cost of nursing home care. For a married couple with one spouse in the nursing home or memory care, you shouldn’t have to worry about whether you’ll go broke paying for your spouse’s care,” he says. “Here are two key steps based on years of helping families through situations just like yours. First, don’t delay! Act quickly so you can keep more of what you have and feel better. And second, don’t believe the Medicaid system when you’re told to spend half of your assets. Remember, it’s not Medicaid’s job to protect your family’s home and savings. Find a trustworthy elder law attorney who can lead you through this process step-by-step.”

Toman says Medicaid is a confusing maze designed to limit access to help. One misstep means your application will be delayed and possibly denied. Elder law experts help families navigate that maze of changing law and regulations.

“What you don’t know about Medicaid and Veterans’ benefits could cost your family nearly everything. I founded the Elderlaw Firm so that families in our area could have peace of mind and a trustworthy guide to the elder care journey,” Toman says.