What Is Elder Law?

Caring for an aging loved one can be stressful, rewarding, and, at times, confusing. The process can raise many questions, such as:

• Who will make medical decisions for your loved ones when they can’t?
• What will happen to their assets when they die?
• How do you know if they are being neglected?

The following overview is designed to give you a starting point if you or your loved one would like help planning for the future.

Elder Law – What You Need to Know

• Elder law deals primarily with legal issues relating long-term care planning and estates of older adults.
• Assisting living facilities or nursing homes that accept Medicaid or Medicare payments fall under the Nursing Home Reform Act, which has specific requirements all assisted care facilities must abide by.
• Estate law is relevant for everyone, but it is vital for those approaching the ends of their lives.
• Consider making vital end-of-life decisions as early as possible and with the help of an experienced attorney.

Elder law is defined less by the types of rules it concerns and more by the kind of person it helps—here, being aging adults. Of particular concern to you, your caregiver, or your aging loved one might be long-term care decisions, end-of-life plans, and how to recognize elder abuse.

Elder Care

Assisting living facilities or nursing homes that accept Medicaid or Medicare payments fall under the Nursing Home Reform Act. This regulation requires assisted living facilities to assess each resident’s needs and ensure enough staff to meet needs and carry out comprehensive care plans.

Nursing homes should also keep and maintain accurate medical records and allow random inspections—including resident interviews. Above all, homes should maintain a resident’s dignity and respect.

The law also gives residents the right to be free from abuse, mistreatment, neglect, or physical restraint. Nursing homes should respect residents’ right to privacy and allow them to communicate freely, maintaining social connections with friends and family members. Residents should be allowed to make decisions about their care and voice grievances without fear of repercussion.

End of Life Planning

Estate law is relevant for everyone, but it is vital for those approaching the ends of their lives. When you create your will, you should consider including plans for incapacity, directions for trustees or executors for your estate, and funeral arrangements. You might also want to consider creating advance health care directives so that your health care wishes will be followed.

Living Will

A living will is a common advance directive that lets you have a say in your health care, even if you are too sick to make your wishes known. This document can make complex decisions more manageable for your family by stating what kind of care you do—and do not—want.

Power of Attorney

A “power of attorney” is a legal document that lets you name a person who will make legal decisions for you. You can also create a healthcare power of attorney, in which you designate someone to have decision-making authority over medical decisions on your behalf. During this process, you will need to decide between a general power of attorney and a durable power of attorney. A general power of attorney will end if you cannot make your own decisions, but a durable power of attorney will remain in place.

Once you have created your estate plan, you may want to consider telling a trusted friend or family member where to find the documents at a future date. This will ensure that your wishes are followed and that your family is taken care of. Learn more about estate planning in general.

Elder Abuse

As adults age, they become less able to care for themselves and more susceptible to elder abuse. Abuse can occur in families or long-term care facilities. Such maltreatment commonly takes the form of neglect or financial exploitation. Caregivers and family members should be on the lookout for signs of abuse, and older adults should take steps to protect themselves from future incidents.

Neglect

Neglect is the most common form of elder abuse. It involves the failure to fulfill a caretaking obligation. Sometimes the failure is intentional, but it can also come from ignorance towards the level of care that a person needs. Warning signs of neglect include dehydration, unusual weight loss, untreated physical problems, and unsanitary living conditions.

Caretakers should also be aware of self-neglect, which is when older adults refuse to seek help, often because they are ashamed or worried about losing their independence. Elders should keep in touch with family members to avoid becoming isolated and speak up if they are unhappy with their care.

Financial Exploitation

This is the unauthorized use of a person’s funds or property. Older people can be victims of financial abuse by a caregiver or scammer. Exploitative caregivers might forge a signature or misuse a financial account. Even caregivers who have been given access to the elderly individual’s finances can be found to have exploited their finances if they use the money for unauthorized purposes, such as personal gain.

Scammers commonly target the elderly by claiming they have won a prize but must pay money to claim it. Scammers might also call claiming that the social security number or credit card has been targeted in hopes that they will give them the numbers over the phone. Elderly individuals should consider taking steps to make sure their assets are protected from future abuse.

Common Questions To Ask an Elder Law Attorney

Below are some common questions you might want to consider when meeting with an attorney for the first time.

1. What do I need to include in a living will?
2. How do I find competent and trustworthy nursing home care?
3. Do you have probate court experience?
4. How do I report elder abuse?
5. Can I change my trust?
6. Does my loved one qualify for a conservatorship?
7. What do I do if I think someone used undue influence to change my parents’ will?
8. How can I assist my loved one in health care decisions like Medicaid planning?

Finding the Right Attorney for Your Needs

It is crucial to approach the right type of attorney—someone who can help you through your entire case. To do so, you can visit the Super Lawyers directory and use the search box to find a lawyer based on your legal issue or location.

To help you get started, you may want to consider looking for a lawyer specializing in elder law.

Should I Talk to a Lawyer?

Elder law issues can be complex, and every state has its own rules about what can and cannot be included in wills and powers of attorney. There may be state-specific formalities about creating end-of-life documents and who you can appoint as a caretaker. Every state also sets its own criminal code and chooses what constitutes elder abuse. An elder law attorney will be knowledgeable about the state law and the particular concerns you may have as you are aging.

A lawyer will further anticipate potential problems with your case and advise you on approaching them. Your lawyer will also keep track of deadlines and file all the paperwork with the necessary courts and agencies, giving you one less thing to worry about.