Stroudsburg Elder Law Attorney
Elder law is a very broad area of the law that involves many different legal matters. We routinely help clients with many different issues that older adults face, including but not limited to the following:
- Estate planning;
- Drafting wills;
- Advance directives;
- Estate administration; and
- Nursing home abuse and neglect.
If you need assistance with an elder law matter in Pennsylvania, an experienced Stroudsburg elder law attorney can discuss your options with you today.
Stroudsburg Estate Planning and Advance Directives
One large part of elder law in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania is estate planning. While estate planning can be extremely beneficial to people of all ages, we often work with seniors and their families to get their affairs in order. Among the most important documents in estate planning is the will. By drafting a will, an older adult can designate specific heirs or beneficiaries for particular assets, can outline a plan for handling estate taxes, and can name an executor or executrix to administer the estate. If a person dies without a will, she is said to have died “intestate” and the laws of the state determine how her property will be distributed. Drafting a valid will prevents the Pennsylvania intestate succession laws from taking effect.
Another important aspect of estate planning concerns advance directives. This is a legal term that refers to documents through which a person outlines his or her healthcare wishes in the event that she cannot make those decisions herself because she is physically and/or intellectually incapacitated. Pennsylvania’s laws on advance directives make clear that a senior can draft a living will that clarifies her specific healthcare wishes, as well as a healthcare power of attorney to designate healthcare decision-making power to another person. Advance directives take effect while a person is still living.
Medicare and Medicaid Financial Matters in Stroudsburg
Financial planning for old age and long-term care can also be extremely complicated. It is important for seniors to understand the ways in which Medicare and Medicaid can (and cannot) pay for certain types of long-term care, and the ways in which personal assets affect certain healthcare benefits.
While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has made healthcare options more affordable for many seniors, there remain numerous financial barriers. According to Senior Living, the average cost for a semi-private nursing home room in Pennsylvania is $9,277 per month, while a private room is $10,007 per month. That averages to anywhere from $111,324 per year to $120,084 per year. As such, it is important to plan ahead financially, and an elder law attorney in Stroudsburg can help.
Stroudsburg Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Elder law also includes nursing home abuse and neglect cases. Nursing home abuse can take numerous forms, including:
- Physical abuse;
- Emotional or psychological abuse;
- Sexual abuse;
- Neglect; and
- Financial exploitation.
It is important to know the signs and symptoms of elder abuse and to speak with a lawyer if you have concerns about an elderly loved one’s safety.
Learn More from a Stroudsburg Elder Law Attorney
Do you have questions about estate planning or filing an elder abuse claim? A dedicated Stroudsburg elder law attorney can speak with you today about the options available to you. Contact Needle Law Firm to learn more about the services we provide to clients in Pennsylvania.