Case Study: Life Care Planning

Published: June 16, 2021

When Terry reached out to Scott Bloom Law, his wife of 40 years, Marilyn, had recently suffered a stroke that left her physically and mentally incapacitated. Though Terry and Marilyn had discussed various scenarios that could arise as they grew older and their health worsened, they never established a concrete plan for steps to be taken when one or both of them were incapacitated. Terry’s main priorities were to determine where she could live that would medically and financially make the most sense and how to avoid spending all of their savings where they would have nothing left to leave for their children.

Terry understood that once released from the hospital, Marilyn wouldn’t be going home again and life, as they had known it, was going to be very different. Terry knew his wife would have to enter a rehab facility but had no idea what would happen next, leaving him worried and confused. After having an initial meeting with Terry, we provided clear and personalized guidance on what his options were and how to effectively implement them. Simply discussing the home care vs. facility placement options left him feeling overwhelmed. With Marilyn not yet eligible for Medicaid, Terry understood that his best option was to pay privately for her care until she qualified.

Terry retained our firm’s services and we developed a plan where he would pay out-of-pocket for a long-term care facility for Marilyn. In the meantime, we developed a thorough and strategic Medicaid plan for when Marilyn qualified. Our plan protected Terry from expending all of the couple’s assets on long-term care and ensured that they would have something to pass along to their children. While having a plan in place before a crisis arises is always our recommendation, we were able to help Terry find a reasonable solution and develop a plan for moving forward.

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. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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

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CLIENT Testimonial

Attorney Scott Bloom is a God send in difficult times. He is caring, knowledgeable, answers questions promptly with clarity, honesty, and accuracy. Scott is compassionate and works with the client as if he is part of the family. I consider myself blessed to have found Mr. Bloom to take care of my family's elder care business.
- Nahla F., Upper Freehold, New Jersey

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