Jacksonville Lawyers For Elder Law And Medicaid Issues
Elder law encompasses a variety of legal needs that face our senior and elderly populations. Our experienced attorneys handle elder law and Medicaid issues. We can help seniors protect their assets when facing the expense of nursing home or at-home care to ensure that their dignity and quality of life can be best maintained.
The Long-Term Care Crisis
Florida's elderly population faces a rising health care crisis with the cost of long-term care facilities. Seniors in the state of Florida have to pay approximately $7,500 per month for nursing home care. Many families and individuals are unaware there is an alternative to privately paying for these costs and spending all of their assets on nursing home costs.
Working with an attorney who practices in elder law can help individuals avoid spending down all of their life savings, can increase the quality of life for seniors entering a nursing facility, and can help ensure that children and family benefit from the senior's lifetime of accumulated assets in accordance with a senior's estate plan wishes.
Medicare Is Rarely Enough
In Florida, many seniors are surprised to learn that Medicare will not cover the bulk of their long-term care expenses. Instead, in order to avoid privately paying for nursing home costs, strategies must be implemented to help seniors gain eligibility for Medicaid. Experienced Medicaid planning lawyers can help seniors and their families gain eligibility for Medicaid by turning "countable" assets into "noncountable" assets through legally approved means, including caregiver agreements, pooled trusts and other investment strategies. It is important to work with an experienced elder law attorney on these strategies because the laws are complex and constantly changing.
For more information about these and other Medicaid planning strategies, see our Medicaid FAQs. It is also important to find an attorney who understands the importance of helping seniors retain their dignity and privacy and stay home as long as possible.
Maintaining the Dignity of Loved Ones
A skilled elder law attorney will help you evaluate whether at-home care can be achieved through veteran's benefits, long-term care insurance, or private at-home care organizations. Finding an elder law attorney who places the desires of seniors first can help ensure both that wishes remain intact and that the needs of persons requiring care are met. Planning early for long term may help avoid or delay transition to a nursing home through long term care insurance.
At Tolson & Associates, P.A., our long term care lawyers can help you evaluate your long-term care insurance options or review your current policy to help you understand its terms and options.
Contact The Law Firm Of Tolson & Associates, P.A., Today
Planning for these transitions should take place early. Our Orange Park law office serves families in the Jacksonville and Orange Park areas helping seniors implement the appropriate nursing home asset protection strategies. Call (904) 269-0050 or contact us online to find out if we can help protect the dignity of the one you love and save your family its hard-earned assets.

