Planning for the Future Now
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 In looking back over old newsletters, I realized that I have never really talked about Life Care Planning, which is what I do, and what makes this law firm unique from most other elder law firms in Tarrant County.
Life Care Planning is unique because it is comprehensive, and looks at the client as a whole, not just as a person with legal needs or with social service needs.
When people come to us interested in a life care plan, we get a lot of information. We want to know about finances, including all sources of income and assets. We want to know about medical issues and concerns, prescriptions taken, as well as the client's ability to get around the home, we are interested in the safety of the home. We also want to know about the family: how involved and supportive are other family members, do they get along, what do they understand about what is going on with the parents.
Once we have all this information, we can then develop the Life Care Plan. The plan will include recommendations related to the legal side of things--making sure the client has a Will, Medical Power of Attorney, Financial Power of Attorney and Directive to Physicians. In some instances a Trust might be needed, and that may be included in the recommendations and services. We will also evaluate the possibility of public benefits and whether there is planning that needs to be done in order to qualify for Medicaid or VA benefits in the future.
From the social service side of things we include recommendations for care. These could include referrals to physicians, requests from physicians for home health care, helping family members get care in the home, or help making a decision about placement. Many of the families we work with find it helpful having a team of people they can always call on when issues or problems arise.
For more information about Life Care Planning, and whether it might be right for you, visit our website or give us a call.
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| Social Work Month |
March is Social Work Month, and being the Social Worker at Katten & Benson is something that makes this firm truly unique.
Steve and Monica recognized that many of the people they work with have more needs than the legal issues they can help with. That is why I am fortunate enough to be here. But more than that, I think we as a team are better able to help the older adults and their families who come to us for help.
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