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How Should We Celebrate Elder Law Month?

With 2020 in the rear view mirror and 2021 well underway, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to generate urgency for elder law planning for those most at risk. May is National Elder Law Month which allows the opportunity to educate seniors in local communities about their legal options and places an emphasis on the importance of planning early to ensure their wishes are in a legally binding format.

Celebrate Elder Law Month by contacting seniors, family members and friends to encourage and help them to create a plan to protect their independence and assets. This could include loved ones (family and friends) as well as professional contacts (CPAs, financial advisors, attorneys) and community members. Share resources, offer support, and talk to them to ensure protection of their independence and assets.

Creating an estate plan ensures the client’s wishes are executed, not the State’s.

Estate planning attorney, Amanda Afton Martin, recently sat down with Julie Holton in an episode of Legal Connexions to discuss vital aspects of estate planning and elder law. Among the topics discussed include:

  • Estate Planning and Long-Term Care Planning
    • Who should be involved?
    • How may we ensure the client’s wishes are implemented?
    • How can early planning avoid court intervention?
  • Medicaid Planning
    • What is it?
    • When should it begin?
  • Impact of COVID-19 on Seniors
    • What is undue influence and what factors increase its likelihood?
    • How can we protect against undue influence?

Click on the thumbnail graphic below to see the full interview.

Video: How Should We Celebrate Elder Law MonthThis video is for general information purposes only and IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE. If you seek legal counsel or need help in determining how this information applies to a specific situation, contact a Foster Swift elder law or estate planning attorney before taking any action.

Categories: Elder Law, Estate Planning


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Survivor's Checklist:

Due to the shock of the death of a spouse or a loved one, the steps of what needs to be done first can be an overwhelming process for the survivor(s). To aid in the breakdown and to act as a tool amidst the emotional days ahead, estate planning Jonathan "Jay" David has assembled a "Survivor's Checklist" of some of the important things that need to be addressed when a spouse or loved one dies.


Resources and Support for Older Adults Living Alone: A Comprehensive Guide (2024):

Below is a comprehensive guide of resources for older adults living alone, empowering them to thrive independently and access essential services. This guide was created and provided with permission by the National Council on Aging (NCOA).

Resources and Support for Older Adults Living Alone: A Comprehensive Guide (2024) (ncoa.org)


Elder Organizer Tool:

Foster Swift has created a free ‘Elder Organizer’ digital notebook to provide seniors and their caretakers with a toolkit that helps organize doctors’ appointments, medications, and more that can be shared online. The tools below are also available on the Elder Law Resources page.

*For those trying to access these links by smartphone, it is best practice to copy/open the link in a separate tab and download the free Google Sheets app from Google Play or the Apple Store.

Using the Elder Law OrganizerMedication & Appointments ButtonVisitor Log & Photos/Media ButtonPrivate Care Schedule ButtonElder Law Resources Button


COVID-19 Checklist:

For adult children responsible for their elderly parents and other senior caretakers concerned about protecting loved ones as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, below is a free downloadable checklist of steps to follow to prepare for any possible COVID-19-related illnesses among the most-vulnerable.

Download Button: Checklist


E-book Covers Estate Planning Essentials

Estate Planning Cover

Engaging in estate planning, while essential, is often emotional and generates many questions. How do I protect my spouse and my children if something happens to me? What happens if I become disabled before I pass on? Who will take care of my pet after I'm gone? How do I pass my business on to my children? These questions and more are addressed in Jonathan David’s recently updated e-book, “Estate Planning: You Have to Start in Order to Finish.”

Need Help Planning?

Helping Hands

For more tools, visit our Elder Law Resource page for additional content. Click here to view/download the Foster Swift estate planning brochure to see what our experienced team of attorneys can do for you.