Senior Issues
One of the critical challenges facing your successful completion of your financial and estate planning are those issues associated with aging.
DRK keeps up to date on changes that have recently occurred as well as pending legislation as it works towards becoming new law. This is critical to our clients as Medi-Cal qualification, for an example, has under the new rules will cause many Californians not to qualify or face unsatisfactory consequences.
Issues such as:
v Medi-Cal Estate Recovery—what assets will the heirs need to pay to the State?
v VA benefits for assisted living
v Different Trusts for different purposes—probate, asset protection, legacy.
v Disclaimer Trusts vs. A/B Revocable Trusts
v Irrevocable Trusts vs. Gifting
Geriatric Care Managing Team
Beyond the financial considerations the Geriatric Care Managing Team responds to the client’s needs on a round-the-clock basis providing services that are specific to each individual’s life circumstances.
v Assess clients and family members to compile information on health, social and drug history of the client.
v Determine client’s ability to perform the basic activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, meal preparation, and medication management.
v Recommend, coordinate, monitor, and evaluate care and services to assure that quality, cost-effective care results in an optimal lifestyle for senior clients.
v Determine appropriate living arrangements and necessary supportive assistance.
v Conduct counseling and support including family conflict mediation and crisis intervention.
v Act as liaison to families who are separated by long distances from their elderly loved ones making sure they are managing well, and alerting them to any concerns or problems that may arise.
v Maintain caseload of clients including performance of initial assessments and follow-up service plan and prepared written reports.
v Establish daily briefings to supervisor on each and every client.
v Work to establish the trust, respect, and understanding of special needs in each case from hospital discharge planners and admissions coordinators for social service agencies and skilled nursing facilities.
v Refer clients to legal and financial professionals.
Geriatric Care Management Team takes great care in their assessment of the various programs, policies and strategies that are best for your circumstance and desires like:
Medicare Medi-Cal
VA Benefits, Vietnam Vet Benefits
LTC
We will explore strategies such as accessing home equity through the use of Reverse Mortgages to supplement Long-term Care costs or insurance. Perhaps you will want an evaluation of using that approach to simply increase your monthly living standard of living.
We take serious the task of Care Planning Assessments to identify problems and provide solutions to clients and families.
The Geriatric Care Management Team will screen, arrange and monitor in-home help or other services. This will include a review of your financial, legal, or medical issues, provide consumer education and advocacy, and offer counseling and support. In addition, they can assist Veterans and widows of Veterans in obtaining Veterans Aid and Attendance benefits.
Staying aware of the current rules and legislative changes is paramount
Any Medi-Cal payments made for anyone currently age 55 or older will be subject to the new Medi-Cal Recovery (22 CA ADC Sec 50961) except in certain circumstances.
Many Medi-Cal issues arise because the rules change. The recent changes in California regulations have made it even more difficult to pass assets to children and other loved ones. Many Californians will no longer be eligible for long-term care medical benefits. Many others will have their home or other assets taken by the State to pay for their long-term medical care. Planning and the correct documents can protect your children’s and grandchildren’s inheritance. It would be wise to heed this ageless advice:
It could be very costly to do nothing.
