Elder Law & Long-Term Care Planning
Serving Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Surrounding Areas
Planning for Long-Term Care
Most of us will need some kind of long-term care as we get older, whether that's help at home, assisted living or a nursing home. That care is expensive, and most people don't realize how little of it is covered until they need it.
I help people plan ahead, for themselves or for an aging parent, so that the cost of care doesn't use up everything they've saved.
What Medicare and Insurance Don't Cover
Medicare and most health insurance plans don't pay for long-term custodial care. That's the day-to-day help with bathing, dressing and eating that most people in assisted living or a nursing home need. Medicare covers only a limited stay in a skilled nursing facility after a hospital stay.

In North Carolina, nursing home care can cost more than $100,000 a year. Without a plan, many families pay for it out of savings until those savings are gone.
Minor Guardianship
Protecting children when parents are incapacitated or pass away.
Adult Guardianship
Supporting adults who are unable to manage their personal, financial, or medical affairs.
Special Needs Guardianship
Ensuring individuals with disabilities have a guardian who understands their unique requirements.
How Medicaid Fits In
Medicaid can pay for long-term care, but only after a person's countable assets fall below a very low limit. Medicaid also looks back five years at gifts and other transfers. Assets given away during that time can delay eligibility.
That's why timing matters. Planning done well before care is needed gives you many more options than planning done in a crisis.
How I Can Help
• Medicaid asset protection trusts: an irrevocable trust that can protect your home and savings from long-term care costs once the five-year look-back period has passed
• Planning for married couples: making sure the spouse who stays at home has enough to live on
• Reviewing your current documents: making sure your financial power of attorney and trust give your agent or trustee the powers they would need to do Medicaid planning for you if you can't
• Advance health care directives: so the people you trust can make care decisions for you
Is This Right for You?
This kind of planning involves tradeoffs, including giving up some control over the assets you protect. It isn't the right choice for everyone. I'll look at your health, your family, your assets and your goals, and tell you plainly whether it makes sense for you.
If you're planning for an aging parent, you and your parent can meet with me together.
Schedule a free 15-minute call to talk about your situation.
Ready to Protect a Loved One?
One conversation can bring clarity and next steps. Schedule your free 15-minute discovery call today—no obligation.