Financial & Legal Issues

Identifying all potential financial sources will give you a good idea of what you will need to plan for the future care needs.  Does your Loved one have: 

• Long-term care insurance
• Stocks/ Bonds / Annuities
• Pension / Retirement Income
• Bank Accounts
• Social Security / Disability / VA
• Property Titles (Auto / Home)
• Estate Planning Documents (trusts, wills, Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA), health care surrogate / proxy)
• Other sources of income & assets
• Any outstanding bills/debts
• Funeral / burial contracts & deeds
• Birth Certificate / Naturalization

 Income and assets are going to be looked at closely when a person has to take over financial affairs for the patient.  This information will be used for any possible payment sources, including veterans and Medicaid benefits. 

Seeing an Elder Law Attorney is an important step to help us understand all of the possible ways to preserve assets and your Loved One’s dignity.

Planning Ahead

A plan that includes finding help and hope for the important decisions that must be made, includes the following:

1. Legal & Financial Issues
2. Getting a Proper Diagnosis
3. Finding a Support Group
4. Adult Day & Respite Care
5. Having A Family Meeting
6. ALF or Nursing home
7. Medicaid, VA or Private Pay
8. Taking care of YOUR needs
9. Watch for signs of Depression
10. Pre-Need arrangements for funeral/ cremation/memorial service

Advanced Directives

 Advance Directives Include: 

• Durable Power of Attorney:  This document designates a surrogate to make financial and health care decisions based on written wishes.
• Living Will:  Clearly states an individual’s choices of any future medical care decisions.
• Do Not Resuscitate Order:  Talk to your doctor about this special order

 Trying to honor these documents has caused many family conflicts.  These issues are not the same as assisted suicide or euthanasia.  It is our right as an individual to refuse or withdraw any medical treatment.  When a person has stated these wishes in a legal document, then, they should be allowed the dignity and respect to have those last wishes honored and carried out.

End of Life Issues

Aggressive care can include feeding tubes CPR, respirators and certain infection fighting medications.  Palliative or comfort care measures are usually provided by your local Hospice.  Palliative care keeps the patient as pain-free as possible.  (New data indicates tube feeding causes problems, infections and does not prolong life-JAMA 07/02/2003)