Growing Older & Keeping Control

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Growing Older with Confidence: The Keys to Maintaining Control

Everyone ages at a different pace, but the universal desire as we grow older is to remain in control of our lives and our choices. Accepting help can be difficult, but proactive planning is the most powerful tool you have to ensure your wishes are honored, even if you can no longer make decisions for yourself. It is the difference between a future dictated by a crisis and one guided by your own design.

The Procrastination Trap: Why So Many Plans Fail

Most people we help at our law firm are in crisis—they haven’t planned, have lost control, and are now at risk of losing everything they have worked for. This isn’t a matter of wealth or education; it’s human nature to procrastinate when planning for an unknown future. However, waiting until a crisis hits is not planning; it is reacting. Proactive planning allows you to put yourself and your family in the very best situation, no matter what lies ahead.

Your Legal Toolkit for Lifetime Control

As you enter your senior years, your legal needs change. You need a different set of documents designed to protect you during your lifetime. The goal is to designate a trusted person who can help you pay bills, follow your instructions, and protect your assets if you are no longer sharp enough to do so yourself.

  • Robust Powers of Attorney: A simple, generic Power of Attorney is not enough. Seniors need a comprehensive document that grants a trusted agent the specific authority to engage in the asset protection strategies necessary for long-term care. Without it, your family could be forced into a public and expensive guardianship proceeding.
  • A Strategic Trust: For many, a trust is the ultimate tool for control. It allows you to manage your property seamlessly, plan for disability by naming a successor trustee, and protect assets for your spouse and children after you are gone. This is especially critical when planning for a potential dementia diagnosis.

The Long-Term Care Component: Planning How to Pay

A crucial part of maintaining control is deciding where you want to live if you need assistance and, most importantly, how you will pay for that care. Those without Long-Term Care Insurance must have a plan to access government assistance without spending down their life savings.

An elder law attorney can help you create a plan that puts you in the best possible position to qualify for benefits like:

A comprehensive plan for your long-term care needs is the most important step you can take to protect your future. Call our office at (919) 256-7000 to schedule a consultation.