• Facebook
  • Pinterest
Mckenzie Legal & Financial

Call (562) 594-4200

For a FREE Consultation
  • Home
  • Areas of Practice
    • Our 3-Pronged Planning Approach
    • Financial Advice and Investing
    • Living Trusts & Estate Planning
    • Wills, Durable Powers of Attorney and Advance Health Care Directives
    • Elder Care
    • Long Term Care
    • Medi-Cal Planning – Asset Protection
    • Planning For Assisted Living, Nursing Home Or Long-Term Care
    • Planning for Minor Children
    • Special Needs Trusts
    • Asset Protection and LLC’s
    • Pre and Post Death Planning
    • Probate and Trust Administration
    • Veteran Planning
    • Same Sex Couples Planning
    • Modifying or Reforming a Trust
  • Real Estate Services
  • About the Practice
    • What Makes Us Unique
    • Attorney Bio
    • Reviews
    • Individual Services
    • Platinum Club
    • In the News
  • Resources
    • Avoid Phony Experts
    • Medi-cal Planning Advisors
    • Forms
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Request a Free Consultation
    • Telephone Consultation
Home
|
Estate Planning
|
Elder Law Estate Planning for Women

Elder Law Estate Planning for Women

June 7, 2021 Estate Planning
0

Elder Law Estate Planning for Women

While both men and women usually have similar goals that they share with an estate planning attorney, there are some unique challenges that women may experience as they age. These concerns usually revolve around long-term care, financial well-being, health, and housing.

These concerns are magnified for women because they tend to live longer and are often the caregivers. This leaves them in the position of needing to care for themselves or turn to other family members later in life. 

Let’s examine how women can make their later years golden instead of worrisome by taking a few key estate planning steps with their asset protection attorney Los Angeles. 

Why Women Need to Think About Estate Planning

According to the World Health Organization, women tend to live longer than men—usually by about six to eight years. Unfortunately, the organization also points out that these extra years of life are not always lived in the best of health.

To protect their assets and lifestyle, women need to prepare for their elder years. Because we don’t know what the future will bring, it’s essential to take care of these documents before an emergency arrives. Preparing an estate plan under the weight of sudden death, divorce, or health issue can be overwhelming at best and impossible at worst. 

An estimated 66% of caregivers are women. Many of these women are caring for aging parents or other relatives. Others are caring for their grandchildren because of parents that are unavailable, for one reason or another. 

In the first case, it’s vital to set up an estate plan that can provide for continuity of care should something happen to the caregiver. In the latter case, a successor guardian should be designated, and a trust set up so that the grandchildren can continue receiving financial, emotional, and physical care should something happen to the grandparent. 

Another consideration is long-term care and the effects of caregiving. For example, should a parent pay a child acting as a caretaker, their long-term care and eligibility for Medi-Cal may be at risk. 

Long-Term Care

More than 75% of residents in assisted living facilities and 70% of nursing home residents are women. Planning ahead and speaking with an estate planning attorney Los Angeles about long-term care can save thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars.  

According to Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey, the average monthly cost for a room in an assisted living facility is $4,500 a month, and the average price for a room in a nursing facility is $8.800. California rates are among the highest in the nation, with an average monthly charge at nursing homes coming in at $11,437.

Fortunately, there are financial and estate planning tools available that can help protect a family’s assets. One of these is known as Medi-Cal planning and requires preparing an estate plan before needing long-term care. 

If done correctly, the process can qualify for Medi-Cal, reduce the share of cost, and protect assets from Medi-Cal recovery. Speak with an asset protection attorney in Los Angeles to learn about the many intricate details involved in long-term care asset protection.

Suppose a woman was being cared for by a family member before needing assisted living services, and she paid them for caregiving. In that case, Medi-Cal may consider that a gift which may negate her chances to receive Medi-Cal. Instead, an elder law attorney could have drafted a Caregiver’s Agreement.

As you can see, the key is to start planning early.

Advance Directives

An advance directive is a legal document stating your wishes should you become incapacitated and unable to speak for yourself. According to the National Institute on Aging, these directives or stated preferences are more likely to result in getting the care you prefer at the end of your life. 

These advance directives are usually stated in a living will and incorporate your wishes regarding the use of emergency treatments to sustain life, such as a ventilator, tube feeding, CPR, and artificial hydration, and under what conditions. Comfort care involves relieving suffering through the use of pain medication and other procedures. 

Of course, your directives on how to handle these situations often change as you age, making it incredibly important to review these types of documents every few years. 

Should you become incapacitated, a durable power of attorney names a representative that can legally make these types of decisions for you when you are unable to. 

Preservation & Transfer of Assets

Many women outlive their husbands. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 12% of men over the age of 64 are widowed. For women, this number rises to 34%. Once a woman reaches 85, 72% find themselves living as a widow. 

Additionally, almost half of all women over the age of 74 live alone, and one in nine of these women need assistance with daily activities.

These numbers make it clear that women need to start planning early. Talk with your spouse or family members and start preparing with the idea that a long life awaits you. 

Historically, women have had less control or involvement with financial matters. And yet, as the numbers show, many women will find themselves in control of the ultimate disposition of wealth and family assets. 

Find someone you can turn to and trust regarding financial and estate planning. It’s best to have built this relationship and created an estate plan before the need strikes unexpectedly. 

Start Your Estate Planning Journey Today

As a living trust attorney Orange County, McKenzie Legal & Financial can help you develop an estate plan that covers your needs as well as your families well into your golden years.

Because Thomas McKenzie, founder, is a registered financial consultant and a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, he and his firm are uniquely prepared to assist you in all of your financial, investment, and legal advice. Call us for a complimentary consultation at McKenzie Legal & Financial today.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
Probate Process in California: Why a Lawyer Is Necessary
Estate Planning Guide: How to Leave Your Loved Ones Prepared
Bliss Drive

Related Posts

  • Estate planning
    3 Estate Planning Tips for Self-Made Individuals
    As a self-made individual, you only want the best to protect your assets and business
    December 19, 2022
  • Hiring a Los Angeles estate planning attorney
    Estate Planning and Succession Planning for Business Owners in California
    Estate planning is often a neglected form of financial planning that can protect your family
    December 5, 2022
Archives
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • April 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • Download Your Complementary

    Asset Planning Guide

Get essential asset and financial planning tips delivered straight to your inbox when you sign up for this incredible Asset Planning Guide!

Your information will be kept confidential.

Platinum Club

Click here to learn how you can get the absolute best financial AND legal advice and services for your asset protection needs, at significant savings!

    Request a Free Consultation




    Your information will be kept confidential.

    A Proud Member of:

    Lawyers of Distinction
    National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
    International Association of Registered Financial Consultants
    Financial Planning Association of Orange County
    Elder Counsel
    Elder Law Answers
    Avvo Rating Superb

    Copyright © 2023, McKenzie Legal & Financial. All rights reserved.

    McKenzie Legal & Financial - Thomas L. McKenzie, Esq. | 2631 Copa De Oro Dr | Los Alamitos, CA 90720 | (562) 526-6941

    Finra Broker Check | Privacy Policy | Site Map | Contact
    DMCA.com Protection Status

    Applying changes...

    ThemeMonstroid

    Layout type
    • Wide
      Wide
    • Boxed
      Boxed
    Skins
    • Material
      Material
    • Dark
      Dark
    • Minimal
      Minimal
    • Flat
      Flat