Do you know someone who has spent time in a nursing home? Have you ever thought about if you will need a nursing home? Most people answer the second question no. It is one of those situations where we feel “It could never happen to me.” But studies show that approximately two (2) out of every five (5) people reaching age 65 will need some type of long-term care.

Or, are you one of the many people who would prefer to stay at home no matter what the cost? Without proper planning, the lack of available services and the staggering price-tag may leave you with few alternatives. If you choose to stay at home and hire home health aides, the cost of your care could be more than a nursing home.

What many people fail to realize is that their health insurance and Medicare will not cover the cost of long-term care, whether at home, in assisted living or in a nursing facility. Paying for long-term care is a crisis for all age groups across our state and the nation.

Most people think of Elder Law as just Medicaid planning, when in reality, the scope of the elder law is much broader. Most attorneys agree that elder law can best be defined by the demographics an elder law attorney serves—the elderly and the disabled. Any and every issue that these two demographics could conceivably face falls under the umbrella of elder law.

Some common practice areas under the umbrella of “elder law” include:

• Medicaid planning
• Veterans benefits planning
• Special needs planning
• Guardianship and Conservatorship
• Basic Estate Planning (Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney)