Attorneys for Elder Law and Planning in Raleigh

Planning for Care for the Elderly

As we grow older we never think as much about the need for estate planning or elder law issues for those who are only related to us through marriage. My husband, even with his wall full of diplomas, was poorly prepared to dealing with the issue of estate planning for his 79 year old mother when she suddenly became his responsibility. He had no idea how to deal with elder law issues. This all came about when he decided he needed to move her to North Carolina from Maine to make sure she received good care. He didn’t consider how she would make the transition, who would provide her estate planning and who should be her attorney. There were many issues surrounding her estate, her healthcare plan, her late husband’s pension benefits, her social security benefits and a multitude of Power of Attorney forms that she had signed over the years.

It was few years ago my mother-in-law came to live with us. She is a delightful woman who has been a psychologist and a writer, as well as a mother to eight children and grandmother to many. Soon after she came here we discovered she had Alzheimer’s disease, as well as other physical health issues. Although it was in the early stages, we were concerned for her ability to pay for an assisted living facility. She sold her home and had the money from that sale in the bank. She also had Social Security, pension and annuity income that was sufficient to meet her current needs. Our concern was that the expense of an assisted living facility would quickly use up her savings, and she might not be eligible for Medicaid or other governmental benefits once that happened.