Transitioning into the retirement lifestyle can be difficult. Aging often brings many new needs and challenges, ranging from new emotions to learning how to navigate services like Medicaid. Addressing these needs requires an understanding of the laws surrounding services for the elderly as well. With all of the different factors at play, it’s no surprise that many older adults and their loved ones wind up feeling overwhelmed. One way to make sure that older adults’ needs are met is to seek the services of an elder law attorney.
What is an Elder Law Attorney?
Elder law attorneys are lawyers that specialize in helping older people. They serve as advocates for older adults and can help them and their loved ones understand legal issues that affect elderly people. While many people expect these issues to only include the big legal issues like writing a will, elder law attorneys can also help older adults and their loved ones find care services. Older adults have their own individual physical and emotional needs, and elder law attorneys are experts at accommodating them!
Which Legal Issues Affect Seniors?
Before seeking an expert on elder law, it’s important to find out which legal needs an older adult may have.
- Healthcare: Older adults can require added medical services. Elder law attorneys can find long-term care for older adults and help them accommodate the cost of these services. They also help older adults understand their rights as patients. Patient rights and nursing home resident rights both help ensure that older adults are being treated well. If there is a possible violation of these rights, elder law attorneys can help hold caregivers accountable as well.
- Financial: After retirement, an older adult’s financial situation may look different. This can require adjustments and more long-term planning, which elder law attorneys can help with! Older adults can also access Social Security and other retirement benefits, which may necessitate legal help as well. Besides general financial planning, elder law attorneys also help older adults find housing opportunities and understand taxes.
- Long-term Planning: Long-term planning is something many older adults and their loved ones do not want to think about, but it’s necessary. Older adults may want to determine a power of attorney for them that can make decisions in their stead if they are unable to. They may also want to sort out their will. Elder law attorneys can help with estate planning and making sure that a durable power of attorney is determined. For more information on end-of-life planning, please read our article on the subject.
How to Find Legal Services for Seniors
While legal services for older adults generally fall under the umbrella of elder law attorneys, there are many different ways to seek their help. In many cities, there are nonprofit organizations that can provide legal services to older adults for free. These can be found through services like Legal Aid, which operates nationally, or through searching databases like the American Bar Association’s pro bono database.
Aging may bring many new needs, but elder law attorneys can help make understanding and addressing them much easier. No matter what the situation is, seeking additional help can make it less overwhelming.
