Elder Law

For those who are ill and are likely to require long-term care in a nursing home facility, Medicaid planning is essential. Depending on the circumstances of the client, there may be little that can be done to preserve assets or a lot. Nursing facilities will sometimes offer to assist a client with completing a Medicaid application. For the client who has little or no assets or who has few options, this may be a positive and viable option. For others, this may work to deplete the assets the client wished to preserve.

For those who are healthy, sometimes Medicaid planning is appropriate and sometimes it is not. It is appropriate and prudent to consider your long-term goals with respect to your current assets when doing an estate plan. Not everyone needs or wants Medicaid planning.

It is important to note that Medicaid planning can be devastating to a client if done improperly. Doing the wrong planning can be worse than doing nothing. The Elder Law in this area are constantly changing and can be complex and open to interpretation. For this reason, it is critical to seek appropriate legal advice prior to taking any action.