What Is Elder Law?

People who are middle aged and (hopefully!) growing older, need to determine how best to use their assets to ensure they are properly cared for in later life. Depending on the amount of assets accumulated over their working lives and inherited from parents perhaps, there are different strategies that can be used to maximize the quality of retirement, or at least, minimize the expenses of elder care in later life. These strategies can include:

• Long term care insurance
• Annuity based planning
• Benefits paid by the government for veterans and their spouses
• Strategies for preserving limited assets
• Qualifying for Medicaid related government benefits.

For most people a combination of these approaches are necessary.

This area can be very complex. Many people try to deal with it on their own. This is a mistake. It is fraught with traps and legal issues. Always consult a professional when developing a strategy for elder care. Frankly, the stakes are too high and you only get one chance to get it right.