A law firm that advocates exclusively for older folks, the disabled and their loved ones.
Elder law is all we do. So, we’re 100% focused on ensuring our seniors and their families get the advice and guidance they need to navigate the legal landscape of growing old. And unlike larger law firms, we take a personal, hands-on approach to senior legal services—no outsourcing or handing off to a paralegal.
Golden Years offers expertise in every area of elder law: Medicaid, trust and estate planning, long-term care planning – even special needs trusts for those with disabilities. We help take away the worries that come from aging so seniors and their families can continue to lead rich and rewarding lives.
Golden Years offers extensive Medicaid expertise to help you determine eligibility, apply for benefits, and develop Medicaid planning strategies. We’ll also help put your mind at ease by dispelling some common myths you may have heard about Medicaid. Whether planning for Medicaid proactively or have more immediate needs, Golden Years will help guide you through the process.
What will be your legacy? Golden Years is your go-to legal resource for matters related to trust and estate planning. We handle probate, living wills, trusts, power of attorney, healthcare surrogate, and more. Talk to us about trust and estate planning services that will secure your legacy in a way that meets your exact needs and the needs of those you leave behind.
No one can predict what their future health and personal needs will be. That’s why it’s important to make sure long-term care planning is in place well before care is needed. Golden Years will help eliminate the worries associated with aging through smart, thoughtful, and personalized guidance and planning.
Elder abuse, neglect and exploitation are real and growing problems in the United States. If you suspect an elderly loved one is the victim of abuse, turn to Golden Years for the legal representation you need to not only stop the abuse, but receive the compensation you and your loved one deserves.
Probate – the court-managed process where assets of the deceased are managed and distributed – can be a difficult and daunting endeavor. As a comprehensive elder law firm, Golden Years can help you expertly navigate the probate process when a loved one passes away.
Certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Golden Years is proud to offer assistance to veterans and their spouses. Golden Years can help in obtaining VA pension and benefits that you may be entitled to while carefully considering the effects such benefits can have on potential Medicaid benefits.
It is my sincere belief that you deserve the full attention of an experienced attorney to help with your important decisions. I know the importance of good counsel because I've spent much of my career as a trial lawyer - first as a prosecutor and later as an associate at a large regional firm. My years of experience as a public servant and a civil litigator help define my approach to elder law. I will be your aggressive advocate and a methodical strategist.
Unlike corporate law firms, I won't hand you off to a paralegal - I'll be with you every step of the way. I also believe that you shouldn't spend all of your money on legal matters which is why I don't charge as much as other law firms. So, call me and I'll help you get started on your own personal plan, so you can worry a little less about the future and get on with more pleasant things in your life.
Medicaid is a means-tested federal program that will pay for nursing home care. Don’t confuse MedicAID with MediCARE (I know, these names are very easy to confuse). Unlike MedicAID, MediCARE will not pay for extended nursing home care, in most cases. Medicare is a federal healthcare program that people pay into during their working years and generally become eligible for when they reach the age of 65. Medicaid is a needs-based program to help impoverished Americans with medical and long-term care expenses.
Nope. Medicare does not provide coverage for long-term care, like skilled nursing home
care. Medicare can pay for up to 100 days of skilled nursing care per illness, but there are some caveats. A patient must be hospitalized for an illness – admitted for at least three consecutive midnights – and the patient must receive a high level of care in a nursing home that couldn’t be provided at home or on an outpatient basis. After 20 days of skilled nursing home care, Medicare requires a LARGE copayment if the patient remains in skilled care on Medicare for the remaining 80 days. However, nothing requires Medicare to pay for the 100 days or even the 20 days. Medicare may, and frequently does, discontinue coverage even before the 20 days is up.
Sure it is -- at least as long as you do it right. Elder law attorneys work to protect clients’ assets within the bounds of the law. Congress allows citizens to qualify for Medicaid after meeting certain requirements. Basically, Medicaid planning is a lot like estate planning to minimize taxes and maximize your legacy to your heirs. Only here, you're minimizing your countable assets, sometimes using traditional estate planning tools and sometimes using strategies unique to Medicaid planning, to qualify for Medicaid long-term care benefits while preserving as much of your life savings as possible.
There’s no simple answer as to how long it might take an individual to qualify for Medicaid. Every case, every individual is different. There are many variables in every situation that must be taken into consideration and ultimately affect the eligibility timeline, including your assets, income and expenses, any asset transfers you’ve made to individuals or trusts, and more. Before applying for Medicaid, you should consult an elder law attorney (like us!). An attorney can help you understand both eligibility and the application process, and should be able to give you an estimate of the time frame you can expect.
If a child removes money from your joint account, that could be considered a non-exempt transfer. Currently, Medicaid has a “look back” period on transfers of assets within the past 60 months. This means that any gifts or other transfers of assets you made in the 60 months before you applied for Medicaid will be assessed in order to determine your eligibility. If you did transfer assets in the five year period before applying for Medicaid, you could be subjected to a penalty. Therefore, if you made a transfer of assets in the past five years, you should not apply for Medicaid without consulting an elder law attorney because the penalties could be severe.
No, it’s never too soon (or too late) to consult an elder law attorney. If you or a loved one anticipate needing Medicaid at any point in the foreseeable future, it’s prudent to seek the advice of a qualified elder law attorney. There are steps you can take to protect your assets which may not be available when you actually need Medicaid. Some of those steps may include transferring your assets or establishing trusts. An elder law attorney with expertise in Medicaid planning can evaluate your situation and advise you on the most prudent steps to take in order to preserve your rights and maximize benefits.
When a loved one passes away, his or her estate often goes through a court-managed process called probate or estate administration where the assets of the deceased are managed and distributed. The length of time needed to complete probate of an estate depends on the size and complexity of the estate as well as the rules and schedule of the local probate court.
AARP Prepare to Care booklet for family caregivers
https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/prepare-to-care-planning-guide/
Alzheimer's Association's LiveWell Online Resources provide individuals living in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease or other dementia's with information on living a quality life for as long as possible.
Family Caregiver Alliance
National Care Planning Council's Long Term Care
Louisville Metro Office for Aging and Disabled Citizens
END-OF-LIFE PLANNING RESOURCES
The Conversation Project is dedicated to helping people talk about their wishes for end-of-life care.
POLST, Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment
LGBTQ COMMUNITY
SAGE (Services & Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders)
What Same Sex Couples Need to Know
LONG TERM CARE
National Clearing House for LTC Info
1534 Poplar Level Road
Louisville, KY 40217
Phone: 502-996-6000
Fax: 502-996-5565
Patrick@GoldenYearsLegal.com