As an individual ages, their legal needs change alongside their physical needs.
Seniors can face some of the same issues that younger folk do when it comes to legal issues. Traffic violations, arrests due to substance use, marriage and divorce, and other legal matters are not uncommon in the senior population. But the elderly also face issues that are completely unique to them. End of life planning, estate matters, power of attorney, and more are matters that impact the older population far more than they do younger folk.
Matters can be complicated even more if an older adult does not live near family members. Ensuring that a senior has the right documents in place to receive the care and attention that they need as they age when there are no natural supports in place can be a challenge–but working with an attorney can implement a framework so that this lack of support is accounted for.
A surprising number of seniors do not work with an attorney when it comes to this type of planning. The downside of this is that there’s also many seniors that don’t have family members that can assist them at this stage in life, either because of distance or other factors. Unfortunately, this leaves many seniors without the care that they desire or deserve. It leaves many in a precarious, and frankly, unfair, situation. Seniors deserve better.
Senior care can be expensive. Working with an attorney can be expensive. But in both of these instances, a lack of planning can be even more expensive. For example, many seniors that don’t have a set plan in place end up receiving care in a nursing home. There’s nothing wrong with nursing homes, but they are quite costly because they provide a very intensive level of care. Many people that receive nursing home assistance don’t actually need that high level of care. Planning ahead can place someone in a more appropriate, and less costly, type of care. Planning ahead and putting the proper supports in place can help to reduce costs as well as make care more helpful.
When you incorporate an individual’s deteriorating health into the picture, the importance of working with an attorney that specializes in working with the elderly sooner rather than later becomes all the more important. Failing health, both physical and mental, can make connecting with a legal professional more difficult. Things like telehealth have made it a little easier to do, but there are still people that fall through the cracks and don’t have access to the professional assistance they deserve.
We can’t give you legal advice, but we can help ensure that you are connected to the right senior care for your unique set of needs. A strong care team is an important part of your family’s overall health and wellness as family members age, just like a good legal team is part of your overall security during this time. We would be happy to talk more with you about how we can help. Please feel free to get in touch by phone or email today to get started.
Leave a Reply