Elder Law

Over forty million people in the United States today are age 65 or older. As a generation, those of us who are over 60 years of age are termed “Older Americans”. As Older Americans, we need to carefully think through Estate Planning and Elder Law planning considerations to protect both ourselves and our family.

Although none of us want to think about growing “old”, let alone a time when we would be unable to make our own decisions or live independently, we must plan early. There are a myriad of issues that can arise from the aging process. From health issues and cognitive decline to mobility and frailty issues, these are potential realities that are better to plan for as opposed to react to. If we fail to plan, our loved ones will bear the burden of not only finding good care for us during a stressful time but also ensuring there is a way to pay for it.

The reality in Southern Illinois and across America is that the cost of Long-Term Care continues to rise. According to the recent Genworth Long-Term Care Study reports that the median cost of an in-home companion caregiver is over $4,000 per month. The average median monthly cost of Long-Term Care in an assisted living facility is over $3,600 and the average cost of skilled nursing home for a semi-private room is over $5,600. Most families are ill-equipped to add this cost of care to their monthly budget. Further, they have not created a savings plan or insurance specifically for this type of care. As a result, they are at risk of losing their savings and their home to pay for some form of long-term care in Southern Illinois.

We understand these challenges. We work with elders and their adult children each day to find solutions. While we wish that everyone had the time and initiative to plan well in advance, many times a crisis hits and we need immediate solutions. We are your Southern Illinois law firm to do just that.

Whether we are planning for a crisis or well in advance for Long-Term Care, do not wait to contact our office. You may call Hafford Elder Law Planning at 618-997-8989 or communicate with us through email. We look forward to working with you!