LONG-TERM CARE
PLANNING
Whether for yourself or your aging parents, here at Jill Gregory Law, we can help plan for the financial, medical, and legal challenges that come with growing older. We can help you develop a comprehensive plan to ensure your wishes and preferences are honored in the future, along with protecting you and your assets if you become incapacitated and require assisted-living or nursing-home care.
Who Needs Long-Term Care Planning?
Thanks to healthier lifestyles and enhanced medical technology, life expectancies in the U.S. are at an all-time high. But that also means more seniors will require some form of long-term care. Whether in-home assistance or a long-term nursing home stay, it’s becoming inevitable that most of us will require such care at some point in our lives.
According to AARP, seventy percent of all Americans age 65 and older will likely need some form of long-term care. On average, people need care for three years, but 20 percent of today’s older adults will need care for five years or more, and more than 40 percent will need care in a nursing home.
The problem is that such long-term care is growing more expensive every day. In fact, some studies estimate that nearly two-thirds of families will run out of money within the first year or two of moving into a nursing home. Unfortunately, most private health insurance plans and Medicare don’t cover long-term care costs—which can average $12,000+ per month in the U.S., depending on where you live and what level of care you require. Considering the average annual cost of nursing home care can be $144,000+ a year, this level of care can quickly eat through your savings.
An Elder Law & Medi-Cal Planning Attorney Can Help
With such exorbitant costs, it’s no wonder we’re facing a looming elder-care crisis in this country. Indeed, it’s heartbreaking for seniors to see their entire life savings (and the inheritance they worked so hard to leave their family) get gobbled up by long-term care expenses.
Fortunately, with the proper planning in place, you can rest assured that you and your loved ones will have the proper safeguards in place to keep you at home as long as you desire, cover the expenses of your care, and receive the maximum quality of care when it’s needed.
Indeed, using trusts and other asset-protection strategies, you and your loved ones may be able to take advantage of government benefits without “spending down” all of your assets or losing everything you own. We can help you create a comprehensive plan that allows you to live out your golden years without worry or financial hardship.
Additional Elder Law Issues
Elder law involves a number of issues that are intertwined with traditional estate planning. For example, its essential to have your durable power of attorney, will, living trusts, and advanced directives reviewed by a knowledgeable attorney.
There are special provisions that need to be present in these documents that—if not included—can create unnecessary obstacles for your family. We can provide the legal assistance you need to navigate this and other elder law issues.
Work with Jill Gregory Law, a California Elder Law & Medi-Cal Planning Attorney
Navigating the complex elder law landscape can be a daunting task. Having an experienced lawyer who’s familiar with the process of long-term care planning can be invaluable for ensuring not only the security and care of your loved ones, but also your peace of mind. Jill Gregory, Attorney and Counselor at Law, has advanced specialized training in the areas of elder law and special needs planning from the Elder Law College.
Get Started Today
If you are ready to get started and you know that your family deserves the kind of protection, guidance and love we provide for a lifetime, let’s schedule a get acquainted call. Call us at 949-514-8842 or 530-581-5455, or click the link below to schedule your call. This call is free and can usually be scheduled the same day. This is a great way to ask questions and learn more about us and whether Jill Gregory Law would be the right fit for you and your family.