According to data from the 2020 United States Census, one in six Americans are now senior citizens. As our population continues to age, elder law is becoming a key consideration for many people. You may be wondering if you can benefit from consulting with an elder law attorney. Here, our Pennsylvania elder lawyer explains what elder law actually is and highlights five key issues that an elder law attorney can help you and your family prepare for and navigate.
What is Elder Law?
Elder law is a specialized area of legal practice. It is focused on the unique issues that affect senior citizens and other aging people. Key matters covered by elder law include retirement, estate planning, health care, adult guardianships, and long-term care planning. Elder law attorneys work to protect the rights and welfare of older individuals, ensuring that they receive appropriate care and that their financial and legal affairs are handled in the proper manner.
How an Elder Law Attorney Can Help
An elder lawyer is a specialist in the legal field who is specifically trained to assist older individuals and their families with various legal challenges. Here are five key issues that an elder law attorney can help you and your loved ones within Pennsylvania:
- Developing an Estate Plan
Estate planning is a must. An elderly lawyer can assist in creating a comprehensive estate plan that addresses wills, trusts, power of attorney, and healthcare directives. A proper plan ensures that a person’s wishes are represented and that their interests are protected.
- Planning for Incapacity
Another key area of elder law is planning for incapacity. This can include drafting living wills, creating durable powers of attorney, and selecting healthcare proxies. These legal tools allow an individual to outline their preferences for medical treatment and appoint trusted individuals to make decisions on their behalf if needed.
- Protecting Assets from Long-Term Care Costs
The cost of long-term care can be overwhelming and may deplete an individual’s life savings quickly. An elder law attorney can help structure assets in a manner that protects them from being consumed by long-term care expenses.
- Navigating Medicaid Coverage
Medicaid is a crucial program for many seniors, but the rules can be complex. Among other things, an elder law attorney can assist in understanding the qualification criteria, completing the application process, and other planning strategies.
- Supporting an Elderly Parent or Vulnerable Loved One
An elder law attorney can also provide legal guidance if you are supporting an elderly parent or other vulnerable loved one. A lawyer can help you with everything, from putting a proactive plan in place to obtaining guardianship or conservatorship for a family member.
Contact Our Pennsylvania Elder Law Attorney Today
At Keystone Elder Law P.C., our Pennsylvania elder law attorney provides compassionate, reliable, and solutions-driven guidance and support to clients. If you have questions about elder law, we can help. Call us now or connect with us online to set up a fully confidential appointment. With a law office in Mechanicsburg, we serve communities in Cumberland County and throughout the region.
