Across the country, the term “elder law” is typically used synonymously with “Medicaid planning.” Admittedly, even on this blog we spend a lot of our time talking about Medicaid and nursing home care.
But Medicaid planning only scratches the surface of all the issues that come up in a typical elder law practice.
What is Elder Law?
Since elder law deals with many different issues and subjects, it’s often easier to define it by the type of client the attorney represents: seniors and the disabled.
This focus on the age and care needs of the client makes elder law unlike any other practice area. At Huizenga Law, our practice encompasses a handful of subjects:
- Estate Planning
- Special Needs Planning
- Guardianship and Conservatorship
- Medicaid Planning or Long-Term Care Planning
- Veterans Pension Planning
Other practice areas that fit in the definition of elder law include elder abuse, nursing home negligence, Medicaid litigation, Medicare appeals, and Social Security Disability.
In short, it focuses on the unique legal needs of the elderly and disabled. It involves working with a variety of legal tools and techniques to meet the goals of the older client.
How Can You Possibly Handle All of That?
An elder law attorney uses a holistic approach. They’ll help you with planning for incapacity with alternative decision-making documents. They’ll help you account for possible long-term care needs, including nursing home care. They’ll account for income tax, gift tax, and estate tax concerns. And they’ll take the time to help you understand how the available legal solutions address each of these concerns.
But they’ll also do more than just traditional legal services.
The typical elder law office will also help you locate the appropriate type of care, coordinate private and public resources to finance the cost of care, and ensure the client’s right to quality care.
Where Do I Start?
At Huizenga Law, we focus our efforts on advocating for seniors and the disabled. We can help you figure out what benefits are available from the state or from your long-term care insurance. To find out more about the difference we can have for your family, call us at (712) 737-3885 and schedule an Initial Care Meeting.
