Philosopher George Santayana noted, “Those who cannot learn from history are
doomed to repeat it.”

Both state and federal officials have announced that the public health emergency –
Covid – is over. While we are all thankful for that announcement, many seniors are still
contemplating their next step in protecting themselves and their families.
Who would have ever predicted the pandemic would last as long as it did and taken
so many lives. That being said, we must learn from this pandemic.

As the growth of Coronavirus cases and deaths in Connecticut has slowed, many
seniors are contemplating their next steps in protecting themselves and their families.
We were inundated with information about the pandemic: How it was spread and the
steps we needed to protect ourselves and our loved ones. We were told to wash our hands,
avoid touching our face, how to cough and what supplies we would need. This is all good
information, but sometimes information is not enough, and you learn that quickly in a busy
elder law firm like ours.

Over the past three years, we have had numerous calls from clients and non-clients
concerned about what could happen if they got the Coronavirus and they don’t have the right
legal documents in place (Power of Attorney for financial, Health Care Representative, Wills
and Trusts).

Fortunately, we were able to work with families and long-term health care facilities
and, with the help of our dedicated staff and technology, we were able to establish plans for
their loved one’s care – even when the care centers were on lock-down.
Making sure you are covered (coughing and sneezing) and making sure your legal
documents cover you, was and is still, the first step to peace of mind. As we put behind us
the pandemic, use this time as an opportunity to plan in case the Coronavirus, or other virus,
comes back in the fall or next winter.

The foundation for a strong asset protection plan is a comprehensive Power of
Attorney. Unfortunately, this is not something you can just download off the Internet because
you have to understand Medicaid rules in order to understand what makes a Power of
Attorney powerful.

Many people do a Will or Irrevocable Living Trust in order to pass their assets to the
proper heirs upon their deaths. Obviously, this in an important part of any estate.

But is raises the question, “What if you don’t die, but become sick along the way? In
that case, with care running $17,000 per month or more, if you haven’t dealt with planning
during a period of incapacity or illness, there may be nothing left to pass on to your heirs.
That’s why it’s crucial to have Powers of Attorney in place that allow Medicaid asset
protection or the ability to change the plan if the circumstances warrant to make sure you are
protected, no matter what lies ahead.

Nobody wants to be out of money and out of options. An experienced elder law
attorney helps you and your loved ones reach the goal to receive quality healthcare and
preserve your options. When you are dealing with long-term care costs and perhaps
Medicaid, you need a powerful Power of Attorney that allows your agent to be able to
take specific actions to protect you and your loved ones. If you have done your
documents, chances are you’re in great shape. If you don’t have Power of Attorney in
place, now would be a great time to get powerful financial and Health Care
Representatives in place.