Category Archives: Elder Law
How To Discuss Asset Protection With An Aging Parent
Many older adults in Pleasantville and throughout Westchester County are resistant to the idea of addressing asset protection strategies and considering ways of protecting their assets in the event they require long-term care. For a number of older adults, these discussions can be unwanted because they highlight the fact that their lives are changing… Read More »
What You Should Know About The Medicaid Lookback Period
Many New Yorkers in Westchester County will need to rely on Medicaid to cover the costs of nursing home care or other forms of long-term care. As you may know, Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people who are 65 and older, while Medicaid provides health care coverage to lower-income Americans. New… Read More »
Who Makes Legal Decisions For An Older Adult With Dementia?
Elder law in Putnam County and Westchester County is a broad area of the law that encompasses a wide range of legal issues, from asset protection to matters pertaining to nursing home rights. An important matter to consider in the area of elder law is decision-making for an older adult with dementia. When an… Read More »
Elder Law And Medicaid Estate Recovery: How Does It Work?
It is critical to plan ahead for Medicaid coverage for nursing home care given the very high costs. The New York State Department of Financial Services reports that nursing home care in downstate New York costs approximately $340 per day. That’s more than $10,000 per month! Over the course of a year, the average… Read More »
How Can I Pay For Long-Term Care?
Long-term care for older adults in Mahopac and throughout New York State is extremely expensive, and it is important for seniors to think about asset protection strategies in the event they need to pay for care in a nursing home or to move into an assisted-living facility. According to the New York State Department… Read More »
Emergency Nursing Home Care: What You Should Know
When an elderly parent or loved one, or a spouse, suddenly experiences a serious accident or receives a diagnosis that results in the need for immediate care in a nursing home, what should you do? Being able to plan for nursing home care is extremely important for a wide variety of reasons. In planning… Read More »
How Far Can New York Officials Go in Forcing Me to Repay Medicaid Benefits?
Many elderly New Yorkers depend on state Medicaid benefits to pay for their health care. But Medicaid always comes with strings attached. One of them is that if agency officials later decide they overpaid your benefits, they can take any necessary legal action to force you to repay Medicaid. Of course, you still have… Read More »
What You Need to Know About Reverse Mortgages in New York
Many New York seniors struggle to make ends meet. When Social Security and private pension benefits are not enough to cover daily living expenses, those seniors who own their home may turn to a home equity conversion mortgage (HECM), more commonly known as a “reverse mortgage.” This is a special type of loan available… Read More »
New York’s Elective Share Rule and “Sham” Marriages
Under New York law, it is not possible for a person to completely disinherit their own spouse without their consent. The surviving spouse has the right to take an “elective share” of the deceased spouse’s estate. This applies even if the deceased spouse left a will purporting to expressly disinherit the surviving spouse. However,… Read More »
Understanding End-of-Life Terminology
For the family of a person on hospice or nearing the end of life, there are many emotions to deal with. Grief, sadness, depression, anxiety, and maybe even a bit of guilt can plague loved ones. Perhaps you are dealing with concerns about your loved one’s estate and how you will manage it when… Read More »