Five Things to Consider When Planning Your Estate

Estate planning is an important task for anyone advancing in years, especially for anyone with a large amount of property that will need to be allocated after your demise. But what do you need to consider when you’re planning your estate? What can you do to avoid catastrophe when the worst comes to pass? Well, here’s five questions to ask yourself when you’re planning your estate. Continue reading “Five Things to Consider When Planning Your Estate”

When to Consider a Power of Attorney

If you have family members that are growing older or have a loved one with diminished ability to care for themselves, you may need to consider a power of attorney. But what is a power of attorney? And when is it appropriate to consider for yourself or your loved ones? Continue reading “When to Consider a Power of Attorney”

Considering Advance Directives

If you or a loved one are advancing in age, or if your health is deteriorating, it may be wise to investigate the possibility of advance directives. Broadly speaking, advance directives are legal documents that convey your desires, if you are incapable of making those desires known yourself. The term “advance directives” generally covers four kinds of documents: living wills, health care proxies, powers of attorney, and Do Not Resuscitate orders (DNRs). Continue reading “Considering Advance Directives”

Guildnet Closes Its Doors

On August 21, 2018, Guildnet CEO, Alan R. Morse, notified employees that the company will be closing its doors as of December 1, 2018, leaving New Yorkers in need of managed long-term care (MLTC) services at a disadvantage. The Guildnet program was designed to offer therapeutic/medical care, home healthcare services, case management, and medical equipment to those who qualify and will be in need of the provided services for a minimum of 120 days. Guildnet announced that by January 1st of 2019, all medical services to their 8,211 managed long-term care members will be terminated. United Healthcare, who until recently offered a partial MLTC plan, will also be pulling out of several counties in up-state New York by February of 2019, affecting nearly 1,500 enrollees who are said to be notified of these changes by November.
Continue reading “Guildnet Closes Its Doors”

Ensuring Maximum Hours with MLTC Evaluations

Individuals receiving home care services through a Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) company may find that the agency did not award their family member or loved one with a sufficient amount of hours of home care services after they’ve conducted an evaluation.

The evaluation process by an MLTC can be complex. A person approved for Medicaid Home Care services will eventually have to enroll with an MLTC. The MLTC provider will send an evaluator to assess the recipient’s condition in order to create a care plan that will suit the individual’s daily needs. The evaluator will determine the number of hours per day that the recipient is entitled to receive to assist with their personal care needs. Continue reading “Ensuring Maximum Hours with MLTC Evaluations”

Revocable Living Trust

A revocable living trust allows assets within the trust as well as income generated by those assets to be managed and distributed by the trustee. The trust income and property are then distributed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the trust. This type of trust is referred to as a living trust because it is established during the life of the creator.

Continue reading “Revocable Living Trust”

Voluntary Administration Proceedings for Small Estates

When a parent dies without a Will and leaves behind money (example $10,000) in a sole checking account, a proceeding would be governed by the small estate process. Not all estates require a full probate or an administration proceeding. If the deceased passed away after January 1, 2009 and has $30,000 or less in personal property, they are entitled to a voluntary administration proceeding, which is a simplified Surrogate’s Court procedure.

Continue reading “Voluntary Administration Proceedings for Small Estates”

How Joint Accounts and Gifting Affect Medicaid Eligibility

As individuals begin to age, long-term care services and how to finance them become major concerns. Many turn to Medicaid to pay for their long-term care needs. Medicaid is a joint Federal and State funded program that provides medical insurance and long-term care payments on behalf of middle- to low-income individuals, including those who are elderly and disabled. However, since Medicaid eligibility is determined by the combined value of income and assets, gifting money and joint accounts may impede a person’s ability to secure Medicaid benefits.

Continue reading “How Joint Accounts and Gifting Affect Medicaid Eligibility”

Nursing Home Contracts

Before a senior gets admitted to a nursing home, he or she will need to sign a contract or other admission’s agreement. A contract is a legally binding document that defines the conditions under which the senior is admitted. It is important for seniors and caregivers alike to review and understand the contract in its entirety to ensure optimal care, protection and provisions. Some of the most important terms of a nursing home contract define the circumstances under which a resident can be admitted, transferred or discharged and how they will pay for the services provided.

Continue reading “Nursing Home Contracts”

Nursing Home Discharges: Can You Appeal?

There are many reasons why elderly persons wind up in nursing homes, including voluntary admittance to obtain assistance with rehabilitation after a hospital stay or problematic behaviors associated with various mental conditions such as dementia. In order to afford nursing home costs, many of these adults rely on Medicaid and Medicare. A nursing home may choose to discharge a person for various reasons, including their coverage is running out or they feel the patient is ready for release.  However, if a resident is being discharged, the discharge can be challenged.

Continue reading “Nursing Home Discharges: Can You Appeal?”

Testimonials

“I want to take this time to thank Tanya and Keith for their professionalism and their ability to keep me calm during this process. Tanya was very helpful in explaining the whole guardianship process and my next steps. Despite my numerous emails, I never felt ignored or that they were growing weary of me. Even after being granted guardianship when I had an issue with the bank releasing money Tanya stayed calm and found a way to get what I was entitled to. I hope I never need to do this again but if I do, I will definitely come back to Tanya and her team. Thank you Thank you Thank you. Love from Bermuda.”

-K. Durham.
(An attorney in Bermuda transferring a Bermudian guardianship to NY)

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