Thanks to people now living longer, Elder Law is a relatively new, specialized area of law that serves the needs of the elderly; the disabled; and their families. The three major categories of Elder Law are: 

1. Estate planning and administration.
2. Guardianship; conservatorship and commitment issues.
3. Medicaid, disability; and other long-term care issues.

So, an Elder Law attorney can assist with:

• Wills and estate planning, including planning for minors or adults with special needs, and probate proceedings.
• Creating a durable power of attorney (POA).
• Healthcare issues, such as long term care options; patient rights; Medicare; and healthcare POA.
• Financial matters, such as durable financial POA; housing options; and income, estate, and gift tax matters.
• Guardianship matters, including selecting and appointing a legal guardian.
• Locating long-term care facilities and managing assisted living costs.
• Explaining nursing home resident rights and filing nursing home claims.
• Drafting a living will or other advance directives, including a durable POA and long term planning documents.

So, if you are a senior citizen or have an elderly loved one who needs legal assistance, consider hiring an Elder Law attorney.