Seniors have many unique needs when it comes to legal issues-including a myriad of health and finance issues that can significantly affect their lives for many years to come. The elderly may have physical and mental limitations resulting in challenges in addressing legal needs. This is the reason there are specialty attorneys, specifically for the needs of the elderly-called “Elder Law Attorneys.”
Elder law attorneys are experienced in how to serve the specific legal needs of seniors-including setting up trusts and wills, specifying Power of Attorney and addressing physical and mental limitations that many seniors (including those with Alzheimer disease) face on an ongoing basis.
The following issues are included in those that Elder law Attorney’s commonly deal with;
•Health decisions, powers of attorney, living wills, end-of-life-care and disability planning.
•Financial planning
•Long-term care planning
•Guardianship/conservatorship
•Estate planning
•Caregiving, planning, grandparent rights and other family issues
•Assistance with Public benefits such as Social Security, veteran’s benefits or Medicaid
Keep in mind that as a caregiver, you will be planning for the current as well as future needs of your loved one with AD.
Before deciding on a specific elder law attorney, be sure to do our due diligence by getting referrals, doing online research and asking questions to learn about the range of practice and experience working with seniors and those with AD.
Below are some resources to help you and your family locate an elder law specialist in your local geographic area;
eldercarematters.com or 1-877-379-4500 (toll-free)
eldercare.gov or 1-800-677-1116 (toll-free)—a free public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging
National Elder Law Foundation at nelf.org or 520-881-1076
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys at naela.org or 703-942-5711
Learn more about topics for caregivers by joining our 25 lsesson course at AlzU.org by clicking here.
