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Life Care Planning

Life Care Planning - A Revolutionary Approach to the Challenges Created by Long Life
Protect yourself, your spouse, your home and your life-time savings. Don't become a financial victim of the Elder Care Journey.
As a person grows older, they move along the Elder Care Journey . . . what professionals call the Elder Care Continuum.
Keeping Mom & Dad Safe at Home
Are Children Legally Responsible For Their Parents' Care?

Call our elder care law firm for a FREE telephone consultation to help you with comprehensive life care planning for you or your loved one.

Our elderly loved ones have a lot on their minds as they age: who will take care of me when I can no longer take care of myself? What will happen to my home and property when my health declines and I can no longer live there? Who will make decisions for me after I cannot? How will I pay for assisted living or nursing home care as I age? How can I ensure that I am receiving the proper care years from now?

Unfortunately, transitioning into the next phase of life is not as simple as picking out a nearby nursing home and moving in. Each family must make a series of tough decisions that both reflect the wishes of their loved one and that will be financially viable for years to come. In most cases, families do not have experience planning for a transition of their loved one and do not know how to acquire potential benefits, avoid unseen pitfalls, and obtain solid legal protection.

Habiger & Associates provide our clients with a comprehensive package of services that will ensure that your loved one lives out their years in comfort and happiness, and that your family's home, farm, and other assets will be protected for future generations. Serving the residents of Southern Illinois, we are committed to finding unique and workable long-term care plans that will maximize your loved one's quality of life and give you lasting peace of mind.

Our complete life care planning services include:

Life care planning consultation. During our initial in-office consultation, we truly want to get to know you and your needs. Everyone has a different medical history, everyone has different legal requirements, and everyone has a different vision of life as they age. What may be ideal for one senior may not be ideal for another. While one senior may be most concerned with preserving the home or farm that they own, another may be most concerned about living independently for as long as possible. We want to ask a number of questions about your wishes, and we want you to tell us your own questions and concerns.
Elder care and special needs legal services. Many families seeking elder care planning or life care planning know they need legal protection, but many do not know where to begin. Do you know the specific documents you need to draw up if you suffer from memory loss or Alzheimer's? Do you have powers of attorney for property and health and a living will? Are your assets protected from liens and claims? We can ensure that you have all of your legal and financial bases covered.
Long-term care funding strategies. Long-term care can cost an exorbitant amount of money - in Southern Illinois, quality nursing home care could cost between $3,000 and $6,000 a month. Without guidance, it is possible to spend your life savings and even lose your house or farm in a matter of months or years. With our help, however, we can coordinate public and private resources, such as Medicaid benefits, VA benefits, SSI benefits, personal funds, and other assets, so that your loved one can enjoy quality care without having to lose everything they have worked for.
Ongoing care coordination. We have been working in the Southern Illinois area for decades and are very familiar with the local care options and resources for those who require assisted living. Even after we have found a long-term care solution for our clients, our elder care coordinator is available to periodically check in on your loved one to make certain that they are well cared for, healthy, content, and safe.

Learn more about Life Care Planning with our FREE Caregiver's Survival Guide

What are the current diagnoses, prognoses, and medical needs of my aging loved one?
Is my loved one safe and well cared for?
When is it appropriate to get involved with my loved one's care?
How do I find good care?
How do I make sure my loved one is getting good elder care?
How does my loved one pay for good care?
What is the estimated cost of my loved one's current need and future needs?
At what point do we need to consider a move from home to a safer environment?
What government and community resources may help pay for their care?
Why should I hire a law firm to coordinate care?

As a special bonus for requesting the Caregiver's Survival Guide today, you'll also have immediate FREE access, and be able to download, a Special Report entitled Caring For Someone With Alzheimer's . . . Real World Strategies That Work! This special report was written by a social worker and former nursing home administrator - and is extremely helpful for all families who have a loved one who Alzheimer's, dementia due to a stroke, or other memory problems.

Request Your FREE Special Report Now!

Contact Us Today To Plan A Secure Future For You Or Your Loved One

Not having a plan for you or your elder loved one can create unneeded worry and stress - and down the road it could even lead to financial disaster. At times like these, it is difficult to know whether you are making the right decisions and whether you have taken all of the necessary legal steps. Let us help you create a comprehensive strategy that enables your loved one to live out their years in comfort and safety. To request your free telephone consultation, please fill out the short electronic contact form to the right of this page or call us at (618) 549-4529 in Carbondale or toll-free at (800) 336-4529. Begin planning today.

Habiger & Associates Elder Law Office (HAELO) provides legal services to elderly or disabled persons in Southern Illinois. The founder of the firm, Richard Habiger, is an elder law attorney with more than 30 years experience. We are an Elder Law and Life Care Planning Law Firm that provides legal and care coordination assistance, including: Medicaid planning; asset protection; estate protection; Medicaid applications; Medicaid appeals; VA pension benefits planning and applications for veterans and their surviving spouses; planning for those with Alzheimer's, dementia, or other forms of memory loss, and those who have suffered a stoke; Hospice planning; and special needs planning, including special needs trusts and supplemental needs trusts.

HAELO is located in Carbondale Illinois, and serves clients in twenty-seven Southern Illinois counties south of Interstate 70 highway. Southern Illinois Counties: Jackson County, Williamson County, Union County, Franklin County, Perry County, Saline County, Jefferson County, Hamilton County, Johnson County, Randolph County, Wayne County, White County, Washington County, Edwards County, Monroe County, Wabash County, Richland County, Clay County, Marion County, Clinton County, Bond County, Fayette County, Effingham County, Jasper County, Crawford County, Massac County, Pulaski County, Alexander County, Pope County, Hardin County, Gallatin County, and Lawrence County.
Southern Illinois Cities & Towns: Carbondale, Murphysboro, Carterville, Herrin, Marion, Anna, Vienna, Metropolis, Harrisburg, West Frankfort, DuQuoin, Benton, Chester, Pinckneyville, Mt. Vernon, McLeansboro, Carmi, Fairfield, Nashville, Waterloo, Centralia, Salem, Albion, Mt. Carmel, Flora, Olney, Lawrenceville, Newton, Robinson, Jonesboro, Eldorado, Shawneetown, Ridgway, Sparta, Golconda, Johnston City, Marissa, Coulterville, Carlyle, Ullin, Tamms, Elizabethtown, Galatia, Wayne City, Cobden, Lake of Egypt, Goreville, Brookport, Olive Branch, Cave-in-Rock, Carrier Mills, Energy, Cambria, Zeigler, Royalton, Christopher, Rosiclare, Sesser, Okawville, Woodlawn, Thompsonville, Steeleville, Raleigh, Olmsted, Baldwin, Villa Ridge, Mounds, Tunnel Hill, Red Bud, Trenton, New Baden, Ewing, Dix, Norris City, Creal Spring, Bridge Port, Sumner, Waltonville, Breese, Aviston, Germantown, Whittington, Vandalia, and Ina.

Blog for Life Care Planning

Library for Life Care Planning:

Protect yourself, your spouse, your home and your life-time savings. Don't become a financial victim of the Elder Care Journey.
Description: As a person ages, they begin the Elder Care Journey. At first, the person may be in good health. But over time, chronic health problems develop and the person may need help to remain at home. VA benefits and Medicare can help to pay some costs, but eventually other governmental programs or private sources must be used.
Life Care Planning - A Revolutionary Approach to the Challenges Created by Long Life
Description: HAELO is a Life Care Planning Law Firm. We use a holistic, elder-centered approach to respond to the challenges created by chronic illnesses. Our goal is to promote and maintain the good health, safety, well-being, and quality of life of elders and their families, while legally preserving their home and life-time savings.
As a person grows older, they move along the Elder Care Journey . . . what professionals call the Elder Care Continuum.
Description: As a person ages, they pass down what professionals call the Elder Care Continuum ... also called the Elder Care Journey. At the start of the Journey, the person may have no functional limts and live at home. But over time, chronic health problems develop and the person may need help to remain at home. With memory or mobility issues, the person may need to transition to assisted living or a nursing home. Government benefit programs such as VA and Medicare may cover some of the costs . . . but ultimately, most persons must ultimately apply for Medicaid. Before you spend-down your life-time savings call for a free telephone consultation.
Keeping Mom & Dad Safe at Home
Description: There are many home-care resources. Yet, your Mom's and Dad's medical conditions may make care at home questionable. Moreover, their financial resources may be limited. We can help. Call today.
Insuring Your Retirement Funds [PDF]
Description: In today’s economic environment, it might not sound strange to be told to insure your retirement funds. After all, you have worked hard and diligently saved your money for your golden years. Like most of us, wouldn't you want to make sure that the funds will be there for you when you need them?
Finding a One-Stop Shop Solution for Your Parent’s Long Term Care [PDF]
Description: Long term illnesses and disabilities raise tough questions for families. Some of those families may be sandwiched between care for their aging parents and children who have not yet left the nest.
Financing Long Term Care and Life Care Planning [PDF]
Description: Preparing for the possible costs of future impairment and long-term care is, regrettably, a task that everyone faces as they age. You may never need long-term care. Yet, the odds are against you.
Are Children Legally Responsible For Their Parents' Care? [PDF]
Description: Adult children are legally responsible for their parents’ financial support, including the payment of their parents’ nursing home bills, in 30 states according to The Elder Law Journal (2008). These 30 states have statutes called filial responsibility laws that can be financially devastating!

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Web Resources for Life Care Planning:

National Elder Care Locator
Description:
A public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging. The Eldercare Locator connects older Americans and their caregivers with sources of information on senior services. The service links those who need assistance with state and local area agencies on aging and community-based organizations that serve older adults and their caregivers.
Life Care Planning Law Firms Association
Description:
This association is a national network of holistic law practices that offer legal services, care coordination and advocacy services to help elderly clients and their families navigate the health care and long-term care maze. Where traditional elder law firms focus on saving the elder's money for the next generation, the goal of the member firms is to use the elder's money to maximize the elder's qualify of life and independence. Consumers can search the website to locate a life care planning law firm in their area.
National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers
Description:
The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (GCM) is an association of professional practitioners whose purpose is the development, advancement, and promotion of humane and dignified social, psychological, and health care for the elderly and their families through counseling, treatment, and the delivery of concrete services by qualified, certified providers. GCM is committed to working towards the highest quality of care for the elderly and their families through education, advocacy, and high standards of professional practice.
American Hospice
Description:
The American Hospice Foundation provides information and supports programs for terminally ill and grieving individuals, their families, and the professionals who care for them.
ALS Association
Description:
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. No matter what your individual course or situation may be, the ALS Association can help.
National Parkinson Foundation
Description:
Knowledge is power and hope is everything. Every day at NPF, they strive to provide patients and caregivers with the resources that help you fight back and move forward.