You've been faithfully working towards your retirement for years, strategically saving and making wise investments, but are you completely prepared? With the expanding senior population, a new area of law has recently emerged - Elder Law. At the Center for Elder Law, a division of Barron, Rosenberg, Mayoras & Mayoras, P.C., we have been specializing in Elder Law since 1990. More than Estate Planning, we help you find answers to tough questions like:

• Who will make my medical decisions when I am no longer able to make them?
• If I unable to care for myself, how can I achieve the greatest quality of care without bankrupting me or my family?
• Who will make my end of life decisions?

Future planning for your own mortality, disability or illness is never pleasant, but it is necessary. Leaving your future to chance and circumstance will only breed disaster for you and your family. Do yourself and your loved ones a favor-stop procrastinating and plan NOW! It only becomes more difficult the longer you wait.

We can help you explore and determine your options to help make your Golden Years truly shine.

Elder Law ...Making Important Choices

There are more senior citizens living now than ever before. Thanks to the miracles of modern medicine and technology, many seniors are enjoying an invigorating lifestyle, full of travel and excitement. But even with all of these advancements, you never know what life has in store for you. Elder Law is not just for senior citizens who are about to enter a nursing home. Elder Law is for anyone who is middle age and beyond -- this is the time to start looking down the road to make major decisions regarding your health, well-being and finances.

At the Center for Elder Law we can help you and your family prepare for the future.

Solutions for Long Term Care

• What happens if I get sick and can't stay in my home anymore?
• How am I going to pay for it?

Not many people look forward to giving up their independence and moving into a long term care facility, even if it is in their best interest. Fortunately, as our population has aged, care alternatives to the traditional nursing home have emerged, such as home care, assisted living, adult day care and senior apartments. These options can cost anywhere from $30,000 to $100,000 a year or more. Unfortunately, to pay for these services, many seniors will quickly go through their entire life savings and assets, when it is not necessary. There is a better way to pay for it.

Many people believe in the old notion that to protect their assets, they need to give away assets to family at least three years before entering a nursing home. While this may be a good idea for some, it is not for everybody. First, there is no guarantee that the nursing home is the best option. Second, if gifting is done improperly, it may cause you to lose Medicaid benefits you might otherwise be entitled to. Gifting your assets without the assistance of an experienced Elder Law attorney usually limits your choice and quality of care substantially.

A consultation with one of our attorneys at the Center for Elder Law can help you determine the best way to protect and enjoy your assets while preparing you for whatever the future holds. Even if a loved one has already encountered a disability and are facing difficult decisions today, it is usually not too late to plan and protect your assets.

Who Can You Trust To Make Your Decisions When You Cannot Make Them Yourself?

It is a common misunderstanding that your spouse or children can act for you during a disability. The truth is, if you cannot make your own medical and financial decisions, a court of law will.

It is essential that everyone over 18 years of age creates a Durable Power of Attorney. A Durable Power of Attorney is a legal document allowing you to delegate your personal, health care and financial responsibilities to an agent. You decide who that agent is and how much power to give the agent. If you become incapacitated without a Durable Power of Attorney, no one can legally act on your behalf until the Court appoints a Conservator and/or Guardian. Court proceedings take time and money. There are no guarantees the Court will select the same person you would have chosen.

But not all Durable Power of Attorneys are the same. If you have a Durable Power of Attorney which has not been prepared by an Elder Law attorney, your planning options may be drastically limited.

At the Center for Elder Law, a division of Barron, Rosenberg, Mayoras & Mayoras, P.C., we will be glad to answer any questions regarding Elder Law and your planning needs. Call now before it is too late.