80 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • SEPTEMBER 2021
POWER OF YOUR ATTORNEY
WHY HIRE AN ELDER LAW ATTORNEY
BY JENNIFER CONA, ESQ., CONA ELDER LAW
If you are concerned with the
health and financial welfare of an
older adult in your life, you need
to hire an Elder Law Attorney.
Elder Law is a very specialized
area of law that focuses on the
legal needs of older adults. It
encompasses key issues facing
adults as they age, such as longterm
health care needs, financial
well-being and quality of life, and
includes Estate Planning, Asset
Protection Planning, Medicaid
Planning, Medicaid Applications,
Wills and Trusts, Probate,
Estate Administration, Advance
Directives, Special Needs
Planning, and Guardianships.
If you have wondered: “What
can an Elder Law attorney do for
me?” take this 5 question quiz:
1.Have you updated your Will in
the last 5 years?
2.Have you protected assets in
case you need home care or
nursing home care?
3.Do you have a Living Will,
Health Care Proxy and Power
of Attorney?
4.Have you taken steps to protect
your home?
5.Are you willing to spend onehalf
or even all of your assets
on the cost of your care?
If you answered “No” to even one
of these questions, it’s time to see
Cona Elder Law!
Asset protection planning is the
process of safeguarding your
assets in advance of a long-term
health care need so that your
hard-earned money can pass
to your loved ones. Medicaid
Planning means protecting
assets by securing eligibility
for government benefits. Early
planning is key. The current lookback
period for Medicaid nursing
home benefits is 5 years, 2.5 years
for home care.
Every adult should have an
Estate Plan regardless of age or
wealth. In a Will, you set forth
your instructions regarding who
will receive
your property
upon your
death. You
can also name
a guardian for
minor children, protect assets in
a Special Needs Trust for disabled
beneficiaries and engage in tax
planning. A Power of Attorney,
Health Care Proxy and Living
Will allow you to plan ahead in
the event of incapacity.
By engaging in asset protection
and Medicaid Planning, families
can ensure their loved one
receives the care they need which
they otherwise may not be able
to afford; a healthy spouse who
wishes to reside in the home will
have the financial resources to
continue to do so; their assets will
not be subject to Medicaid’s estate
recovery program, particularly
real estate liens.
A knowledgeable, reputable Elder
Law attorney is worth her weight
in gold. Your loved one’s health,
well-being and financial security
is at stake. Your inheritance is at
stake. Not only do you need an
Elder Law attorney, you need
an experienced one. Look for an
Elder Law attorney or firm that
ONLY practices Elder Law. The
laws are constantly changing and
the attorneys need to be dedicated
to this area of law 100% of the
time, like the attorneys at Cona
Elder Law.
Jennifer B. Cona, Esq. is the Founder
and Managing Partner of Cona
Elder Law, an award-winning law
firm concentrating in the areas of
elder law, estate planning, estate
administration and litigation,
and health care law. The firm
has been ranked the #1 Elder Law
Firm by Long Island Business
News for eight consecutive years.
For additional information, visit
www.conaelderlaw.com
REINVENT
YOUR FUTURE.
Attend our upcoming virtual Open House for
first-year students, or sign up for a one-on-one
appointment. Meet our students, faculty, and
advisors, and find out why New York Tech is the
right place for you!
2021 OPEN HOUSES:
Monday, October 18 4 – 7 p.m.
Tuesday, November 30 4 – 7 p.m.
Financial Aid,
Scholarships, and
Rolling Admissions
for undergraduate,
graduate, and transfer
students.
REGISTER TODAY
NYIT.EDU/LIPRESS
90+ PROGRAMS
BACHELOR’S
MASTER’S
DOCTORATE
ADV-21-4248_LI_Press.indd 1 8/26/21 10:01 AM
/www.conaelderlaw.com
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
/www.conaelderlaw.com
/LIPRESS
