Prioritizing Quality of Life in End-of-Life Care
Hospice is an approach to medical care for patients nearing the end of their lives. The goal is to enhance the quality of life for patients who have a terminal illness and limited time left. With that in mind, hospice focuses on pain management and symptom relief while addressing the patient’s emotional, social, and spiritual needs, as well as the needs of the patient’s family members. Hospice allows patients and their families to share their end-of-life experiences with dignity and in most cases, in the comfort of their own homes.
There are often legal issues that arise during this time, however. There may be decisions to make about how to handle important decisions ranging from health care decisions to financial decisions, and how your property should be divided upon your death.
Why should I choose an Elder Law Attorney to help me with Hospice Planning?
It’s important to deal with an attorney skilled in helping families during this difficult time. In this day and age, it’s difficult for any professional to know all there is to know about any given topic. That’s especially true when it comes to issues of government benefits like Medicare and Medicaid.
It’s important that you deal with an attorney who works frequently in this area and with the State. You need an attorney who knows how to help you and your family. Helping families through this difficult time takes a special set of skills. Not only is it important to have an attorney who understands the technical aspects of the law, but it’s also critical to have an attorney who understands the emotional elements of your situation. You want someone you will be comfortable with and someone who has provided services to countless families going through the same issues you and your family are facing.
You will be best served dealing with an attorney who knows how to help you protect your life’s savings and everything you have worked for.
No matter the size of your estate, you have worked hard to earn it. It may be important to you that you pass along as much of your estate as possible. When selecting an attorney, be sure that he or she is knowledgeable about how to help you arrange things so that you receive the care you need and so that your assets will be preserved for your family to the greatest extent allowed by the law.
Individuals often leave their estate to their spouse; however, the hospice patient must consider their spouse’s likelihood of entering a nursing facility. An elder law attorney can help develop a plan that saves assets from being consumed by nursing home care costs, benefitting the surviving spouse.
Select an attorney who makes house calls.
Assisting clients in hospice is unlike any other type of legal practice. Typically the family has to go to the attorney’s office for a consultation. Not only can this be stressful, but it also takes physical and emotional energy. An attorney who deals with hospice, on the other hand, should make house calls when needed. This makes things easier on the family, especially in the later stages of illness, when hospice patients may have greater difficulty getting around.
All of these are reasons why it is important to deal with someone who practices in this important area of the law and who has a sensitivity to the needs of hospice patients and their families. Find a lawyer near you that understands these important and vital matters.
