News & Resources: Blog

Case Study: Life Care Planning

Published: May 25, 2021

In her late eighties and widowed, Natalie was fortunately not experiencing any cognitive or memory issues and was living on her own without much issue. Her physical condition, however, had taken a turn recently and she needed assistance with her ADLs (Activities of Daily Living), such as bathing, cooking, cleaning, and dressing. A neighbor, who had previously utilized the team at Scott Bloom Law to help when her mother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, referred Natalie to us and after consultation, it was decided that the first step moving forward was to create a Life Care Plan.

Natalie was without children but was close with some of her nieces and nephews. After consultation with us, we were able to prepare the necessary documents required to allow her niece, Emily, to be authorized to make financial and medical decisions for Natalie when she was unable to. We thoroughly discussed all the potential situations that could arise in the future and planned accordingly based on Natalie’s short-term and long-term needs and wants.

Natalie also utilized our Care Plan Program, which allowed her to organize her decisions moving forward, as inevitable changes occurred in regards to her medical, financial, and cognitive situations. In Natalie’s case, after utilizing home care for a short time, she smoothly transitioned to Assisted Living, with the process already established through her use of the Care Plan Program. Because of Natalie’s proactive approach to her care and her future, she was able to make the transition with as little undue stress as possible.

At Scott Bloom Law, we have the experience and breadth of knowledge necessary to understand and advise on all aspects of eldercare issues. With compassion, honesty, and attention to detail, the team at Scott Bloom Law will be there every step of the way for you and your family, providing a plan and offering guidance through the elder law legal process. Get in touch with us today for a free consultation.

CLIENT Testimonial

Our family had the good fortune to find Scott Bloom.  He was invaluable helping us set up our trust. We had an unexpected health crises and realized that we had nothing in place to protect our children.  Scott explained our options and got the necessary paperwork ready for us to hand to our family, accountant and banks. Scott was absolutely the right attorney at the right time for us. We would highly recommend him and his team.
- Tricia B., Hamilton, New Jersey

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CLIENT Testimonial

This question is asked all the time: “Wouldn't it be easier to get a will off the internet, transfer my land when I die, and put my children on my bank account?” It’s just not a good idea. For the plan to work as you would want it to, it should account for plenty of complications. A good plan should protect your spouse and your children from the loss of valuable government benefits if anybody is or becomes disabled. The plan should avoid the delay and expense of probate court. The plan should protect money from children’s creditors or divorce or remarriage. It should be crafted to serve family harmony and to avoid disputes between children as joint owners. Even a relatively simple situation is made up of many moving parts. Internet documents and joint-ownership devices just won’t do the job.

Also, assembling the moving parts so they work smoothly is just the first step. Your estate plan needs maintenance too, just like your car has a “check engine” light. Major family events like serious illness or death, marriage, birth, or financial reversals are alerts that you should tune up your plan to reflect those changes. Your plan shouldn’t be “one and done.”

It takes expertise to coordinate the various strategies available. Don’t risk a result that will cause your family problems and unnecessary expense. Call us to create a plan that harmonizes the moving parts, so the gears will work together and you will leave the legacy you intended. We hope you found this article helpful. If you have questions or would like to discuss your legal matters, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 215-364-1111 to schedule a consultation.

- Creating an Estate Plan On Your Own: Think Twice