As you can see from our website, the attorneys at Gaughan & Connealy are highly committed to educating their clients and the residents of Kansas City, Missouri. We offer a comprehensive electronic library of special reports covering numerous estate planning and elder law issues. We also update our blog regularly in order to provide updates on the ever-changing laws in this field. Finally, our free estate planning and elder law workshops are always a go-to source for information. Ultimately, it is our desire that Missouri residents stay informed. Below, you will find several links to useful resources relating to Kansas City, Missouri elder law issues.
Senior Health Care Benefits for Missouri Residents
Medicare: Medicare covers a large portion of senior medical costs, but there are very specific guidelines for eligibility. To check if you are eligible take a look at the Medicare Eligibility Tool from www.medicare.gov. Additionally, be sure to utilize Missouri CLAIM (http://www.missouriclaim.org/.) a service for Missouri Seniors that provides free Medicare advice and information.
Medicaid: Medicaid, a more income-based coverage, like Medicare, has stringent eligibility guidelines. For more information on these guidelines please visit this Missouri HealthNet Information page
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services: Assistance and resources for senior citizens in their search for health care.
Medicare: Information regarding Medicare, Medicare eligibility, etc.
Medicaid: Information regarding Medicaid, Medicaid eligibility, etc.
Financial Planning Resources for Missouri Residents
AARP Missouri: AARP provides information to retired people across the country, including financial guidance.
MOSAFE: MOSAFE is a program through the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services that works to combat financial exploitation of seniors across the state.
Missouri Home Care Resources
Missouri Alliance for Home Care: An association that advocates for seniors who receive home care or are searching for home care.
Missouri Council for In-Home Caring: An organization that provides in-home care for seniors and those with disabilities.
Missouri Housing Resources for Seniors
Missouri Long-Term Care Search: A searchable directory of long-term care facilities from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
US News Nursing Home Listing: A listing of top nursing homes in Missouri from US News.
Missouri Assisted Living Association: An association that works to better care for Missouri families who are interested in Assisted Living care.
Assisted Living Federation of America: Assisted Living Federation of America home page for all states.
When do you need an elder law attorney?
With so many different types of attorneys out there, with different specialties, you may be wondering whether an elder law attorney is the type of attorney you need for your specific legal issues. An elder law attorney primarily handles issues relating to seniors. This can include nursing home issues, estate planning, and guardianships, just to name a few.
The training and experience of an elder law attorney
Elder law attorneys receive special training and experience in the relevant legal issues that affect seniors, which makes them better equipped to understand and meet the needs of their elder clients and their families. Elder law attorneys are also adept at anticipating potential problems facing seniors. Generally speaking, the practice of elder law requires legal advocacy, education, counseling and future planning.
Understanding legal issues facing seniors in our society
One particular skill that an elder law attorney should have is maintaining a current and working knowledge of the common issues facing seniors in our society. It is important for attorneys to be able to sort through the myths related to aging and competence, where seniors are concerned. Elder law attorneys must be experienced enough to identify the real mental and physical challenges of seniors, while recognizing how important freedom and autonomy are to the elder population. Keeping abreast of the changes in the laws affecting seniors and making connections with the professionals who routinely provide services to the elderly is an important part of the job. An elder law attorney’s advocacy often goes beyond simply drafting legal documents.
What do elder law attorney typically charge?
The fees elder law attorneys charge for legal work will depend on the type of services required and the nature of the work required.
If you have questions regarding elder law planning matters, please contact the experienced attorneys at Gaughan & Connealy for a consultation. You can contact us either online or by calling us at (816) 974-3030. We are here to help!
