faith is what grounds you, you may find a retirement community that’ s rooted in religion. Or if you want to maintain your active lifestyle, look for a community offering outdoor activities, yoga, or walking groups. There is something for everyone; you just have to put in the time to search for a community that suits you.
When deciding on a new home, be sure to research costs. While the price of the home may fit nicely into your price range, the extracurricular activities associated with retirement communities may have additional fees. You’ ll want to know all costs up-front to make sure you’ re setting yourself up to maintain your quality of life.
Elder Law
Having a legal professional assist in elder law planning will set you and your loved ones up for success in later years. This planning helps ensure that seniors are financially prepared for their aging care and often helps navigate the complex legalities of state and federal regulations regarding their care decisions.
Attorneys who specialize in this type of law aid in anticipating future medical needs, financially preparing for long-term care solutions, protecting assets from Medicaid spend-down, and can assist with qualifying for long-term benefits.
When aging parents or loved ones are deemed incapable of making responsible decisions on their own, they may have a“ guardian” appointed to make decisions for them, as granted by the court. This guardian will take ownership of decisions including legal, financial, and health care and can work closely with an attorney to make sure the loved one is well cared for.
There are alternatives to guardianship should a person be able to make some
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decisions, including power of attorney, representative, conservatorship, or revocable trust. These options should be considered if possible, since they are less restrictive to the individual than guardianship.
Creating a relationship with an attorney early on in your planning can allow you to gain trust and a mutual understanding of your wishes as you age. This professional will be most apt to provide you with the knowledge you need to navigate the challenging waters of elder law.
Estate Planning
No matter your age, you should be prepared for what will happen to your assets when you die. Focusing on wills and trusts, estate planners can assist you in laying out a road map for your children, pets, home, and other assets to ensure that everything is taken care of the way you intend.
The planning starts with a solid relationship with an attorney who understands your financial state and your wishes for how your assets should be
At Concordia, we offer the“ best of the best” in retirement living, and we have the awards to show for it. With a beautiful campus, engaging social activities, chefinspired dining and more, there’ s never been a better time to learn more about Concordia. Call 412-278-1300 to schedule a tour today!
1300 Bower Hill Road • Pittsburgh, PA 15243 www. Concordia-SouthHills. org • 412-278-1300
distributed. Plans are typically fluid and could change often with births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and other large life events.
Estate planning can also assist you in identifying a power of attorney who could handle your affairs should you be incapacitated, and creating an advance health care directive to name someone who could make health care decisions if you’ re unable to do so yourself.
Younger families may choose to focus their planning on building a living will and naming guardians and trustees should both parents die unexpectedly, while aging adults focus more on estate and Medicaid issues. Whatever your circumstances, it’ s important to find a legal professional you can build a relationship with and trust.
Setting yourself up to be financially sound could make your golden years more enjoyable. Knowing that you and your loved ones will be comfortable and secure makes the time and effort you put into researching and educating yourself on retirement planning, elder law, and estate planning all worth it. n
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