If you have a child with special needs, you’re undoubtedly concerned about how your loved one will be cared for when you are no longer able to provide adequate care yourself. A special needs trust may provide an answer… and some much-needed peace of mind.A special needs trust allows you to provide...
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Home for the Holidays Part II: Planning Strategies to Pay for In-Home Long-Term Care
Last time I discussed MassHealth programs that can help elders who need long-term care live at home for as long as possible. Now I’d like to describe some other long-term care planning strategies that can make home care affordable for elders and their loved ones. I’ll also provide links to past articles...
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Home for the Holidays Part I: MassHealth and Paying for In-Home Long-Term Care
Nothing reminds us about the importance of “home” like the holidays. While the vast majority of elders who need long-term care would prefer to live at home for as long as possible, many feel that they can’t afford in-home care. In this article I will discuss options for financial assistance from MassHealth...
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Eligibility for Assistance from MassHealth to Pay for Long-Term Care
Given the high cost of long-term care, it’s not surprising that Medicaid (known as MassHealth in Massachusetts) is now the largest provider of funds for nursing home care in the United States. As I discussed in a previous article, MassHealth can also pay for home care, assisted living,...
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Protecting Your Life Savings Against the Cost of Long-Term Care: Irrevocable Trusts
Trusts are among the most powerful tools in the estate planner’s toolbox. The benefits of a trust include probate avoidance, greater privacy, and expedition of estate settlement. They can also establish specific parameters for the use of your assets during your lifetime and after you pass away, allowing greater customization of your...
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Options Available for Professional In-Home Care
The vast majority of elders needing assistance with daily living prefer to remain at home rather than move to an assisted living residence or a nursing home. Helping my clients accomplish this goal is one of the cornerstones of my practice. In the past, I’ve written about the resources available in Massachusetts to...
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Lunch & Learn! Elder Law 101: Protecting Your Assets
On Tuesday, March 28, I’ll be making a presentation at The Allerton House at Harbor Park. I’ll be joined by Christine Lappas, Allerton House Sales Director.
Join us for lunch at 11:30 a.m. followed by an informative presentation at 12:00 to learn more about:
Health Care Proxy
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Five Estate Planning and Elder Law Mistakes that Could Come Back to Haunt You
In honor of Halloween, I’d like to share what I consider to be some of the scariest (and easily avoided) planning mistakes.Thinking you can become eligible for long-term care assistance from MassHealth by simply giving your assets away.This might seem like a great idea, but MassHealth has strict guidelines for gifting, including...
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Thoughts on Independence from an Elder Law Attorney
Independence Day has come and gone, but this time of year always reminds me of why I focus on estate planning and elder law: these areas of practice allow me to help my clients live at home independently for as long as possible. Let’s take a brief look at some of the...
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Estate Planning Myths and Misconceptions: All Trusts Protect Your Assets
Some myths contain an element of truth. An example of this is the notion that all trusts will protect your assets against long-term care costs, divorce, lawsuits, and other threats. The truth is a bit more complicated: while some types of trusts provide excellent asset protection, others do not. When most people think...
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