Elder Law Attorneys in Fort Myers

Helping People Direct the Course of Their Senior Care

While it’s true that an estate plan helps you protect your family’s interests in your estate after you pass on, that’s only half of what a comprehensive plan can do. Your estate plan is very much about you and how you’ll plan to be treated once you reach an advanced age. At The Dorcey Law Firm, we can help you account for all of the details concerning your care as a senior citizen.

Important aspects of elder care that can be covered in an estate plan include:

• Senior housing
• In-home care
• Long-term care (including nursing homes)
• Guardianships
• Health care documents
• Medicare and Medicaid

Estate planning isn’t just something you do to make sure your loved ones are financially secure upon your passing; it’s very much about how you can predetermine your life’s course when making important decisions for yourself can be more difficult. If you think it’s time to look after your advanced age care, reach out to our elder law attorneys in Fort Myers.

Medicare & Florida Medicaid

Although Medicare and Medcaid sound alike, they are very different programs. Medicare is a federal health insurance entitlement program for people who are 65 years old or older and available to all such people regardless of their financial position. Split into Part A and Part B, it’s Medicare Part A that should most concern people who may need a hospital stay or care in a facility such as a nursing home and hospice center.

Medicaid, on the other hand, is a collaborative program between Florida and the federal government that provides access to healthcare options for people who aren’t able to afford other types of healthcare. Eligibility is based on one’s income the value of their assets, but it provides access to basic medical coverage that can include nursing home programs.

Whether you are in need of planning your options in Medicare or Medicaid, our elder law attorneys in Fort Myers are prepared to help you evaluate your options and establish a course of action suited just for you.

Housing Options Available to Senior Citizens

Any one of a number of events can trigger the need to move a senior citizen into senior housing where they can be better cared for by capable staff. Whether it’s the death of a spouse, a fall at home, or a diminishing ability to provide care for themselves, events like these can make it necessary to consider a newer, safer housing option.

The Dorcey Law Firm can help you pre-select when and how you’ll seek senior housing. It’s best to look into your options well in advance of needing them because finding a home that meets your needs and is appeal can be a time-consuming process.

We advise that you plan as much as you can ahead of time, so your transition is smoother. Be sure to carefully evaluate the levels of care available to you at your facility, as well as any pricing options that you can take advantage of to upgrade your care in the future should you need to do so. Compare the cost of the facility with your current situation, factoring in all of the bills, taxes, maintenance, and HOA fees you will be liable for.

You may not have to make the move all in one go – some seniors opt to do so in phases, which can mean living between their current home and a nursing home or spreading out the move-in process over a longer period of time than a simple weekend.

Finally, be sure to continue exploring your options. They get better every year for seniors, who are making up an increasingly broad portion of the population.

For a free consultation, contact The Dorcey Law firm online or call (239) 309-2870.