Legal assistance for the elderly and their families is commonly known as elder law. Attorneys specializing in elder law are trained to provide legal counsel to senior citizens in the planning of their estate, health care and Medi-Cal issues.

Elder law enables individuals to make important decisions about their estate and health care while they still have the ability to do so.

• You will be able to appoint a trusted friend or family member to make medical decisions for you if and when you can no longer make those decisions for yourself.
• The power of attorney, appointed to a person chosen by you, transfers management responsibility of your assets should you become incapacitated and avoids a conservatorship (a person appointed by the courts to manage your assets for you.)

Making these decisions now may also help avoid family members arguing about "who gets what" later.

Generations also assists families providing for a disabled or elderly parent, child or spouse who receives Medi-Cal by finding solutions that allow the person to keep their valuable public benefits. There also can be issues about placing a spouse in a skilled nursing facility and to qualify that ill spouse for Medi-Cal without impoverishing the spouse at home. With the horror stories and hard-sell tactics being circulated about long-term care, itıs comforting to know that Generations provides a realistic perspective and important support.

For parents who want to give a share of their estate to a disabled child but donıt want to adversely impact Medi-Cal or Supplemental Security Income, the attorneys at Generations will discuss with you the possible use of a special needs trust.