Planning for the day when an elder person needs long-term care and other services can be challenging and expensive. Any Elder Law Attorney will tell you the rising cost of elder care is staggering. It involves more than the simplistic solution of “a place for Mother.”
Will the funds be available? How much help can you expect from public money sources? Any elder law attorney will tell you that in Texas, only those on Medicaid are eligible for long-term care. And what other things must be considered, like wills, assets, trusts, investments, and savings? Will it be enough to ensure the care needed? How can I get access to services? It’s a lot.
An elder law attorney can help you sort all of this out, protecting your later life or that of your mother, father, or other relatives in the process. Finances and health care options must be reviewed. An elder law attorney will develop a legal road map to guide you through the maze of agencies and decisions.
Elder attorneys handle a wide range of legal matters and issues affecting an older or disabled person, including:
- Health care
- Long-term care planning
- Guardianship
- Retirement
- Social Security
- Medicare/Medicaid Payouts
- How to obtain public health care services
In Texas
A Certified Elder Law Attorney must pass a series of rigorous tests to attain certification. The certification assures an accurate and full range of elder-care considerations.
- Medicare as a funding source
- Special needs trusts
- Estate planning
- Elder abuse
- Fraud recovery
- Retirement issues
- Issues surrounding assisted living and long-term care
About Elder Law Certification
A certified specialist in elder law has received specific training in related issues, has practiced in that field for at least five years, and has been certified as highly qualified in elder law by the Texas State Bar or by another accrediting organization. The must-have requirements are stringent.
- Experience practicing as an attorney for at least five years with a focus on elder law for at least three
- Pass a specialized exam with a focus on legal issues affecting the elderly
- Be peer-reviewed by five practicing attorneys
- Continuing education to keep up with the latest changes in elder law
Get the Most Out of Medicaid
Elder law attorneys can help lower-income elderly and their families get the most out of their Medicaid coverage. Medicaid, the wide-ranging, jointly funded state, and federal health care program for low-income individuals of all ages, includes many services important to the elderly.
There are several different Medicaid eligibility groups. Claims filed properly by an elder law attorney can mean the difference between getting what you deserve from the program or not. Medicaid patients are covered for long-term and nursing home care, assisted living services, and adult foster care services. Texas Medicaid also pays for many non-medical support services that help frail seniors remain living in their homes.
If you’re thinking it’s time to consider elder care planning for yourself or a loved one, don’t wait. There’s no time like the present. Our elder years and those of our loved ones creep up faster than you think. Don’t get broadsided by the sudden need to make a hundred unplanned decisions.
The Help You Need for Elder Care
The Voeller Law Firm specializes in all aspects of estate and family care planning—get started on the road to securing the elder services you and your loved one need. If you have questions and need help with your elder care, contact us by calling (210) 651-3851 or using our online contact form to send a message and set up a consultation.
We serve San Antonio, Schertz, and the surrounding communities of Bexar County.
19311 FM 2252
Suite 103
San Antonio, Texas 78266
