The holidays can be joyful, but also sad or anxious.  Those who have family and/or good friends can enjoy spending time with their loved ones, but sometimes seeing someone after time spent apart makes you realize that worrisome changes are occurring, and that your family member or friend needs help. Or perhaps you realize that you are the one who would benefit from some assistance.

The problem is that many people don’t know where to start.  What is needed: a aide, a daily money manager, a geriatric care manager, an eldercare attorney, or something else?  Who should you call?  It can feel overwhelming and depressing.

The answer is usually closer than you think, and surprisingly easy to do.  The best first step is to call a professional who deals with the numerous aspects of aging, and start a conversation. 

You want to ensure that you have considered the best possible choices available to you.  The reason we feel it is best to call an Eldercare or Elder Law attorney (the terms are used interchangeably), is that they know the legal and financial aspects of long-term care planning, and they have connections with many other service and care providers who can help with other aspects of aging.

At our firm, during the initial phone call we will review some of your basic information, and we will recommend the next steps for you.  Often the recommended next step would be a consultation with one of our attorneys, but that is not appropriate or necessary in every situation.   If indicated, we can and do refer people to other organizations that are better able assist them.  We are happy to begin the process of guiding you to the people who are best suited to serving your needs and objectives.

After your phone call, an initial consultation at our firm will involve an in-depth review of your health, family, and financial situation, as well as your personal objectives.  All these aspects of your life feed into the plan an Eldercare attorney will recommend.

The consultation will address the available legal options, but the discussion often reveals additional needs and indicates other services that could be helpful to you.  If you need assistance with other aspects of aging, we can recommend excellent professionals in other fields as well.

For example, if you need an aide in the home, many of the home care agencies you might contact accept private pay only.  While we know and often recommend excellent private pay agencies, you may also want to consider using an agency that accepts Medicaid payment as well as private pay, if you are considering seeking Medicaid benefits. 

If you need another type of service provider, such as a daily money manager or financial advisor, we are happy to refer you to other professionals we know and trust.  We are not paid for referrals, nor do we pay for them.  Everyone’s goal is simply to give excellent service.

This procedure – in-depth consultation, determining your needs and objectives, recommending legal steps and referring other professionals whose services you may need – is how we operate every day.  Not all Elder Law firms work this way.

Feeling that the first call you make will open the door to finding a plan that works for you, and will also provide you with access to other professionals you can trust, can bring tremendous peace of mind.  Call today, then you can relax and actually enjoy the holidays!