When Is The Right Time To Talk To An Elder Care Lawyer

There are more than 40 million people older than 65 in the United States. That's almost 15 percent of the whole population. And this number is slowly but steadily growing, especially as the vast majority of “baby boomers” are now over 60 years old. There are more seniors in the country than ever before. Obviously, the need to create programs that help seniors have to be created and managed properly. Luckily, there are multiple federal and state programs that help people over the age of 65. Unfortunately, however, most of these programs are increasingly complex, especially for older people, so assistance is required. That's where an elder law attorney in Miami can help.

What exactly does an elder care lawyer Miami do?

Most people don't really understand what an elder law attorney does, and that's not surprising. After all, it's not a very common law specialty and few people encounter these professionals in their day-to-day life. An elder law attorney in Miami is the attorney that specializes in assisting and helping adults and families navigate the complex financial and legal decisions they need to take. There are not very many elder law attorneys (there are approximately 500 specialists), but this number is growing steadily. These professionals are trained to understand and take into account the mental and physical limitations of older clients and know how to handle the network of social workers, psychologists, medical professionals, and public institutions. They know how to represent their clients when interacting with these professionals and the important institutions that can get involved in their clients' life.
How can an elder law attorney in Miami actually help you? Why would you need one?
Your elder care lawyer will work together with other professionals active in other fields in order to coordinate the care, the financial aspects and the legal protections and aging client requires. Some of the issues an elder care lawyer in Miami can handle are:

Government benefits – many senior citizens may need assistance regarding communication and interaction with the public institution and governmental organizations; common issues can be related to Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare benefits.

Guardianship – this is very common, especially in elder clients; it refers to persons who cannot take care of themselves – simple activities like paying bills, interacting with a medical professional and assuming responsibility are often very hard for older people; a good lawyer will take care of this legal issue and work as a legal guardian, protecting and representing your interests;

Care coordination – this is a very important aspect in elder law – it can be a simple procedure as establishing a health care power of attorney or a complicated procedure of identifying a good elder care center and establishing the financial resources required in order to receive the service; a good lawyer will help you through this whole process;

Financial representation – this aspect includes planning for the future (having a good estate plan in place), establishing a power of attorney, dealing with important money matters (paying bills and handling debt), receiving tax guidance and assistance and coordinating with financial planners;
Please pay attention that not all eldercare lawyers are specialized in every area related to laws affecting seniors. No lawyer can be an expert in every law, so pick a lawyer that specializes in the area you need guidance for. If you want help in guardianship, you should find a lawyer with experience in this field.

When do you need an elder law attorney?

Many senior people avoid contacting a lawyer, often considering it an unnecessary cost. What's more, most seniors don't understand how an elder care lawyer can help them, especially if they don't have a persistent medical issue or a problem regarding their estate. However, problems can appear unexpectedly and legal assistance might be required immediately, especially if the issues are severe. Elder people have a more difficult recovery, the medical costs are higher and the risks are greater, particularly for people who have chronic diseases. Getting help with managing medical expenses, care and communication with the public institutions is critical in these situations.

An elder care lawyer can help you create a power of attorney if you want to move to a retirement community, create a living will or can help you select a good healthcare provider. Although most seniors want to take care of these issues all by themselves, getting professional help is very important, as it can reduce costs, risks, stress and get a better, more beneficial deal for you in the long run. It's always important to plan ahead and understand that an elder care lawyer in Miami can be an important partner during your old age and help you tremendously.

Communication is another important aspect. Often, seniors find it hard to communicate with their loved ones about their needs. Life decisions are ignored and postponed, often with a lot of emotional pain, stress, and anxiety. Decision making is difficult during old age and communicating your needs is particularly problematic. A good elder care lawyer can help both the family and the senior client better handle the communication. These important discussions about decision making, medical issues, financial problems and actions that need to be taken urgently can be handled by the lawyer. In this situation, families feel that they are in control, have a plan and know what to expect in the future. Legal assistance can reduce stress, risks and bring the much-needed peace in the family, even during these difficult times.

Legal help is also needed when interacting with public and governmental institutions. The regulations, rules, and paperwork can be immensely complex, so legal help is needed in these situations. Without legal help, many seniors are at the risk of making poor decisions that will negatively affect their life, health, and financial stability. Knowing how to handle the communication between you and the public institutions will help you avoid making mistakes. Managing and handling healthcare claims, paperwork and offering guidance in public and private settings is critically important during old age.