Guiding Cumberland County Seniors in Planning for a Secure Future
At Keystone Elder Law, P.C., our dedicated team of qualified elder care attorneys in Upper Allen Township, Pennsylvania, is committed to representing individuals facing unique legal challenges as they age. We understand the complexities that come with aging, such as long-term care planning, estate preparation, and asset protection for your loved ones. With our guidance, we can address these issues and more, providing comprehensive advice tailored to your specific needs.
Comprehensive Elder Law Services by Keystone Elder Law, P.C.
All too often, residents of Upper Allen delay addressing elder law matters until a crisis occurs, leaving them with limited options. That’s why it is crucial to be proactive and seek the assistance of a skilled Pennsylvania elder law attorney before such situations arise. At Keystone Elder Law, P.C., we offer a range of services, including:
- Estate Planning: A comprehensive Pennsylvania estate plan goes beyond having a will. It includes powers of attorney and similar documents that outline who will make crucial decisions on your behalf should you become incapacitated and unable to manage your affairs independently.
- Long-Term Care Planning: Planning for long-term care is essential. Whether you require nursing home care or wish to remain in your own home with necessary assistance, we provide guidance to help you prepare for these possibilities and determine the best course of action.
- Medicaid Asset Protection: Many seniors in Upper Allen Township, Pennsylvania, may require government assistance, typically Medicaid, to cover nursing home and long-term care costs. However, Medicaid has strict income and asset limitations. Without proper planning, your valuable property, including your home, could be at risk of government claims. We help you navigate Medicaid asset protection strategies to safeguard your assets.
How Our Upper Allen Elder Law Attorneys Can Assist You
While elder law issues may initially seem overwhelming, you don’t have to face them alone. The elder law attorneys at Keystone Elder Law, P.C., in Upper Allen Township are here to support you. By scheduling an initial consultation, we can understand your unique circumstances and family’s needs. If you choose to work with us, we offer the following services:
- Addressing your legal queries regarding estate planning and Medicaid.
- Presenting available options for financing long-term care.
- Gathering relevant legal and financial documents to facilitate the planning process.
- Drafting necessary legal paperwork on your behalf.
- Taking appropriate legal action if you require assistance in safeguarding a parent or adult relative in need.
We recognize that elder law matters often impact entire families and are sensitive in nature. Therefore, we provide a safe and confidential environment to handle these issues. If you seek the guidance of a qualified elder law attorney in Upper Allen Township, Pennsylvania, contact Keystone Elder Law, P.C., today. We proudly serve clients throughout Cumberland County and South Central Pennsylvania.
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REGISTER HERE for LONG-TERM CARE PLANNINGPower of Attorney
A Power of Attorney can be used to give another person the right to sell a car, home, or other property in the place of the maker of the Power of Attorney. A Power of Attorney might be used to allow another person to sign a contract for the maker of the Power of Attorney (the person who makes a power of attorney is called the “principal”). It can be used to give another person the authority to make health care decisions, do financial transactions, or sign legal documents that the principal cannot do for one reason or another. With few exceptions, Powers of Attorney can give others the right to do any legal acts that the makers of the Powers of Attorney could do them themselves. A General Power of Attorney gives the “power of attorney Agent” or simply “Agent” (the legal name of the person who is authorized to act for the principal) very broad powers to do almost every legal act that the principal can do. When Elder Law Attorneys draft general Powers of Attorney, they still list the types of things the Agent can do but these powers are very broad. People often do general Powers of Attorney to plan ahead for the day when they may not be able to take care of things themselves. By doing the General Power of Attorney, they designate someone who can do these things for them.
Normal Powers of Attorney terminate if and when the principal becomes incompetent. Yet many people do Powers of Attorney for the sole purpose of designating someone else to act for them if they cannot act for themselves. It is precisely when persons can no longer do for themselves that a Power of Attorney is most valuable. To remedy this inconsistency, the law created a Durable Power of Attorney that remains effective even if a person becomes incompetent. The only thing that distinguishes a Durable Power of Attorney from a regular Power of Attorney is special wording that states that the power survives the principal’s incapacity. Even a Durable Power of Attorney, however, may be terminated under certain circumstances if court proceedings are filed. Most Powers of Attorney done today are durable.
Yes. At the time the Power of Attorney is signed, the principal must be capable of understanding the document. Although a Power of Attorney is still valid if and when a person becomes incompetent, the principal must understand what he or she is signing at the moment of execution. That means a person can be suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease or be otherwise incompetent sometimes but as long as they have a lucid moment and are competent at the moment they sign the Power of Attorney, it is valid even if they do not remember signing it at a later date. At the time it is signed, the principal must know what the Power of Attorney does, whom they are giving the Power of Attorney to, and what property may be affected by the Power of Attorney.
Any competent person eighteen years of age and older can serve as an agent. Certain financial institutions can also serve. There is no course of education that agent must complete or any test that Agent must pass. Because a Power of Attorney is such a potentially powerful document, agents should be chosen for reliability and trustworthiness. In the wrong hands, a Power of Attorney can be a license to steal. It can be a big responsibility to serve as an agent.
For Medicaid
Medicare is health insurance and covers medical services such as physician appointments, therapy, blood tests, x rays, medical procedures and hospitalization. Medicare will sometime pay for rehabilitation in a long-term care facility for a period of 20 to 100 days, but not longer. In long-term care, Medicaid covers the cost of ongoing support services for daily functioning, such as room and board in a nursing home.
Medicaid is a federal program that is overseen by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In Pennsylvania, Medicaid is called Medical Assistance and is administered by the Department of Human Services (DHS).
In Pennsylvania, Medicaid funds are not available to pay for assisted living or personal care.
For Medicaid to pay for care in a nursing home, an individual recipient must be determined to need a nursing home level of care by a physician and the local Office of Aging. An individual whose income is not greater than three times the poverty level may keep up to $8,000 of total resources, but may otherwise keep only $2,400. The cash value of life insurance counts as a resource, but one car and a residential home does not count as a resource.
What an amazing team you have!!! Taking charge and getting things done, but also being so understanding and compassionate
Empowering Clients with Holistic Planning at
Keystone Elder Law
At Keystone Elder Law, we believe that the physical, social, legal, and financial considerations of our clients all intertwine. We utilize an interdisciplinary approach to evaluate each area, which allows for the creation of a plan that addresses the concerns of the individual as a whole as well as the family. To this end, our model of practice includes a Care Coordinator (usually a nurse or social worker), whose expertise complements our team of attorneys.
When the road of life is smooth, decisions about legal and financial matters are easy to push aside for “a rainy day.” Planning ahead, however, will allow for more options as you view the map of where you’ve been and where you want to go. Don’t let a crisis limit your choices or derail your plans.
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