Many people choose to live their golden years in Florida because of the warmer climate. And while the hope is to enjoy the retirement years living independently, there comes a point when many Floridians may need help considering assisted living facilities for changing physical or health needs. To intentionally plan for senior care costs, it is helpful to ask, what is the average cost of living in Florida?
Why is Assisted Living a Valuable Option?
After spending years working to accumulate wealth for your retirement years, considering the cost of possible assisted living needs can be intimidating. Compared to a mortgage, the sticker shock of this type of daily living can feel overwhelming. However, it is important to view the cost of an assisted living community as a supportive environment that may improve lifestyle, provide social activities, reduce worry, and eliminate some physical requirements related to independent living. This type of living also combines some other regular monthly costs such as utilities, food, and housekeeping into one monthly expense, so the shock of the overall expense is a bit less drastic when looking at all aspects.
Average Cost of Assisted Living in Florida
On average, assisted living costs in Florida are around $4,000 for monthly or yearly costs of $50,000, depending on the location. Of course, this cost may vary some based on location in Florida (i.e., Miami, Tampa, and Punta Gorda tend to be less expensive, Panama City and Tallahassee more, and Port St. Lucie is moderate). There may also be increased costs associated with options available in terms of selected amenities and level of care. As an example, memory care is often 20%-30% more expensive. Care options may include meal preparation, attendant nursing care, emergency response systems, health monitoring, medication management, personal care assistance, health aides, etc. To consider your situation more specifically, access a cost of care survey here.
How Will I Be Able to Pay for Assisted Living in Florida?
As referred to above, assisted living costs can be alarming. However, financial assistance programs are in place to help seniors pay for assisted living facilities or long-term care services. For those seniors who are low-income individuals and/or disabled, Medicaid offers a wide range of services, and Medicaid Waivers are available to financially and medically eligible persons. Some people are also able to utilize previously purchased long-term care insurance or retirement accounts. Additionally, if you are a Veteran or spouse of a Veteran, the VA offers a program to assist with the costs of care.
Deciding upon a path for immediate or future assisted living costs can feel overwhelming, but there are people who can help. For further discussion regarding the above options and additional holistic guidance from an experienced elder care law attorney in Florida, please contact our office.
As we age, there are important legal issues for seniors to consider in terms of health, wealth, and even family situations. Each of these areas may benefit from the assistance of an elder law attorney. If you’ve never utilized the expertise of this type of attorney, you may be unfamiliar with all of the legal services they can offer. Here are some things to consider if you need an elder law attorney in Florida.
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The Law Office of Amy B. Van Fossen is pleased to announce the expansion of its practice to serve Indian River County, Florida!
Ms. Van Fossen said, “In response to client demand, we are eager to expand into Indian River County. We look forward to serving our neighbors with the same quality and compassion as we have in Brevard County since 2004.” This expanded practice area allows the experienced team of attorneys at the Law Office of Amy B. Van Fossen to represent more individuals along Florida’s eastern central coast.
Families in Indian River County needing expert care for their aging veterans will now have access to expertise in veterans affairs. Ms. Van Fossen said, “As an Elder Law firm, we offer a unique practice that assists in attaining public benefits. With three VA accredited attorneys on staff, we are able to serve our Veterans with knowledge and confidence in obtaining benefits.” Families in Indian River County needing expert care for their aging veterans will now have access to specialized care in this unique area of the law and a full range of elder law services.
The Law Office of Amy B. Van Fossen understands the deeply personal aspects of elder care law. The team provides practices in elder law, estate planning, guardian advocacy, case management, probate and trust administration, trust funding, Medicaid planning, and veterans benefits.
Located at 211 E New Haven Ave, Melbourne, FL 32901, you can contact The Law Office of Amy B. Van Fossen at (321) 345-5945. To learn more about their full range of services, visit www.amybvanfossen.com. Learn more about monthly Seminars and Events or register for a VA Benefits Seminar, Medicaid Planning Seminar, Estate Planning Workshop, and Trust Follow-Up Seminar on the website as well.
There is a lot to consider when making estate plans. Legal issues, health concerns, and costs may all be changing as family members work to make sure their aging loved ones are cared for in the best way possible. Two terms that come up often in this stage of life are estate planning and elder law. As you work to care for your loved one, you may be wondering, “What is the difference between estate planning and elder law?” Our attorneys at the Law Office of Amy B. Van Fossen, P.A. are here to answer this question and other legal advice related to the legal services, health, and estate care of your family member.
What is Estate Planning?
Someone’s “estate” includes everything they own. Proper estate plans may include someone’s home, car, additional real estate, bank accounts, life insurance, physical possessions, and/or investments. Regardless of how much or how little someone has accumulated in their lifetime, it still has to go somewhere after they pass. The process of estate planning determines how and where you want your estate to go while planning for the smallest impact on taxes, court, and legal costs.
What is Elder Law?
Elder law is a specialized law practice focused on caring for the decisions of someone who has become incapacitated and/or at the end of life. The training of elder law attorneys equips them to handle the specialized needs of older adults, such as concerns related to medical care, nursing homes, long-term care, or even crisis planning. At the Law Office of Amy B. Van Fossen, we are committed to welcoming you into a caring environment to discuss your concerns for your aging loved one.
Why Should I Hire An Elder Law Attorney?
Many people wonder if they need an elder law attorney. An elder law attorney is generally recommended for anyone after the age of 60 to begin preparing estate planning documents, power of attorney, etc. Even if you or your loved one have not encountered difficult health and/or end-of-life concerns, beginning your planning ahead of time can help assure that your wishes will be followed and the impact of probate and court delays will be minimized.
How do Estate Planning & Elder Law Work Together?
Estate planning and elder law go hand-in-hand because specialized elder care law attorneys are experts at estate planning. Because we understand the nuances of the law related to the care and concerns common for older adults, we can help you think through the many concerns that can arise during those years and effectively plan for the wishes you want to be carried out.
Whether you are just beginning to consider estate planning or elder law needs, or you have found yourself in a situation where you need to create plans and documents quickly, we can help. Please contact the Law Office of Amy B. Van Fossen, P.A. for all your elder care and estate planning needs!
As we age, many of us begin to consider issues we may have not thought about during our younger years. In addition to considerations like health and retirement, many people begin to ask questions about their finances and estate. What kind of support might I need as I age? How can I make sure I am not a burden to my children? What will happen to my assets once I am gone? At what age should I contact an elder law attorney?
These kinds of questions are common. Not knowing the answers is common too! The knowledgeable and compassionate staff at The Law Office of Amy B. Van Fossen are experts in elder law services, available to help older adults with legal matters related to aging and/or incapacitation so that your important wishes are documented and carried out.
Why is Elder Law an Important Practice Area?
Since 1965, the Older Americans Act (OAA) has been federally protecting certain services for senior citizens. From this, legal services were created to help older adults, resulting in the important, specialized practice of elder law. Working with an attorney with this specialty offers asset protection for older adults seeking to protect their estate from probate, unnecessary taxes, or decisions made by someone other than the trusted individual of your choice.
At What Age Should You Contact An Elder Law Attorney?
After recognizing that you may need specialized legal advice from an elder law attorney you may wonder, “When is the best time to contact an elder law attorney?”
As a general rule, elder care law may be sought after the age of 60. It is recommended if you’re in your 60s or 70s, you may benefit from working with an elder law attorney. However, establishing basic estate planning documents such as a power of attorney or healthcare surrogate are recommended as soon as you become a legal adult at the age of 18.
By contacting an elder law attorney during these years, you have the advantage of considering legal issues with someone who specializes in concerns that can develop in someone’s older years. Additionally, you can also factor in more immediate life changes that may be occurring such as retirement, changing from full-time to part-time work, and/or any health conditions that may later require nursing home care or power of attorney.
While immediate and long-term care planning may seem like a lot to consider, having these discussions now ensures that your health, financial, and/or estate decisions will be carried out should you become incapacitated. And, it also protects your family members or parties of interest that you wish to be provided for following your passing.
Let Our Elder Law Attorneys Care for Your Specialized Needs
We recognize that no matter your age, it can be difficult to consider end-of-life or incapacitation issues. However, doing so with an expert in these matters can make it easier, offer peace of mind, and help you feel confident that you have made wise, protected choices for yourself and your loved ones whenever those difficult days come. Contact our elder care law firm experts at The Law Office of Amy B. Van Fossen today.
Transcript:
Today’s tip of the day for case management is to have an emergency plan. Ask yourself some questions. If you were to fall ill tomorrow and you had to go to the hospital, do you have someone to lean on? Have you written down your preferences? Do you know what hospital you would want to go to, what pharmacies you’d want to use? Even if it were a long stay, do you know what rehabilitation facilities you would want to use or what home health agencies you’d want to use?
Think about your trusted person, do they know your preferences? Have you written them down? If you haven’t, then now is a good time to start. And if you are not so sure how to start with all of those options and need some help, a case manager is right there for you. They’re in touch with these agencies all the time and oftentimes can tell you the good and the bad about many of them, even payer sources, and how to get help to pay for some of these things if they’re not covered by insurance.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions, At the Law Offices of Amy B. Van Fossen, we’re always here to help. Contact us with any questions regarding case management.
