Appel Law Firm LLP operates from 100 Pringle Ave., Ste. 730, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, with phone 925-938-2000, specializing in elder law and nursing home abuse cases. Every day, numerous elderly Californians become victims of elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, with elder abuse growing throughout the nation, including Walnut Creek. In 2005, one-fifth of California nursing facilities failed to meet state staffing requirements, with deficiencies in food service, quality care, record-keeping, dignity/respect, and medication management—all of which had increased by 2011. Over half of nursing home complaints stem from poor quality of care, with almost 20 percent of substantiated complaints linked to abuse or mistreatment. With California’s elderly population projected to double to approximately 6.4 million by 2025, addressing poor care quality in skilled nursing facilities has become critical. The firm identifies various types of abuse including physical abuse (striking, pushing, slapping, burning), sexual abuse (non-consensual acts), and psychological/emotional abuse (insults, threats, humiliation, isolation). Three specialized programs have been designed to increase accountability for those who neglect and abuse elderly Californians.
The Law Office of Inna Fershteyn provides elder law services from locations at 310 East 2nd Street in Manhattan and 1517 Voorhies Avenue in Brooklyn, with over 22 years of experience serving the Tri-State area. Their practice encompasses healthcare planning, Medicare/Medicaid planning, elder rights, guardianships, estate administration, estate planning, wills and trusts, special needs trusts, short-term planning, and home care aid. Attorney Fershteyn has built a strong reputation advocating for senior clients and addressing their families’ legal needs across complex elder law matters. The firm helps clients prepare essential advance directives including healthcare durable power of attorney, living wills, and revocable trusts while providing strategies to avoid costly nursing home fees through comprehensive financial planning. They specialize in establishing Pooled Income Trusts to help clients qualify for Medicaid while maintaining income for living expenses, and navigate adult guardianship proceedings when individuals are deemed incompetent to make rational decisions. Recent case highlights include successful Medicaid benefit applications through proper asset structuring and successful appeals against reductions in home care hours. Consultations can be arranged by calling (718) 333-2395.
Walnut Creek Elder Law, led by attorney Michael J. Young, operates from 1931 San Miguel Drive, Suite 220 in Walnut Creek, California, offering specialized elder law services throughout Contra Costa County. Their practice addresses critical concerns for seniors and their families, including Medi-Cal planning and qualification strategies that protect assets while securing necessary benefits. The firm provides comprehensive guidance on navigating nursing home care costs, which can exceed $10,000 monthly in California, helping clients understand that Medicare typically doesn’t cover these expenses. Their expertise extends to handling joint checking accounts between parents and adult children, a practical solution when medical emergencies arise and immediate financial access becomes crucial. Attorney Young’s approach emphasizes proper planning to avoid Medi-Cal eligibility penalties resulting from improper gifting during the five-year look-back period. The firm stays current with California’s Medi-Cal qualification requirements, including the Community Spouse Resource Allowance limits, which reached $119,220 in recent years. For personalized elder law assistance with Medi-Cal planning, asset protection, or long-term care strategies, contact their office at 925-256-0298.
Amoruso & Amoruso LLP, operating from 800 Westchester Avenue, Suite N-605, Rye Brook, NY 10573, specializes in elder law to help clients plan for retirement and long-term care challenges while preserving financial resources and protecting assets for loved ones. Led by partners Michael J. Amoruso and Sreelekha Chakrabarty Amoruso, the firm offers innovative comprehensive estate planning that combines tax law, asset protection, health care decisions, and family dynamics. Their elder law practice assists older adults and their families with healthcare, long-term care, public benefits, surrogate decision-making, legal capacity, and estate planning implementation. The attorneys alert clients about potential tax consequences while helping them design lasting legacies that meet family needs, preserve assets, and express final wishes. They employ specific strategies to protect assets when expensive long-term care is required, potentially saving retirement savings from depletion. Michael Amoruso brings exceptional credentials as past president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, past chair of the New York State Bar Association Elder Law Section, and recipient of numerous honors including a U.S. Congressional Proclamation for his work in Elder Law. Contact them at (914) 253-9255 for a consultation.
Fleming & Curti PLC, located at 1745 E River Rd. #101, Tucson, AZ 85718, specializes in elder law, estate planning, and special needs planning. Their practice handles complex issues including Medicaid/ALTCS applications, guardianships, and fiduciary services. In their January 2025 newsletter, attorney Jordan Young discusses critical developments affecting seniors, including Corporate Transparency Act updates and Social Security changes. The firm highlights how the Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law on January 5, increases benefits for teachers, firefighters, police officers, and federal employees. They also note government recovery efforts reclaiming $31 million in payments made to deceased individuals, with expectations to recover $215 million over three years. The practice assists clients in navigating Medicaid planning strategies, guardianship proceedings, and asset protection while ensuring compliance with changing regulations. Their team includes prominent attorneys Robert B. Fleming, a Fellow of both the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and Elizabeth N.R. Friman, a principal and licensed fiduciary. Contact them at 520.622.0400 for assistance with elder law matters or estate planning concerns.
Michael T. Heider, P.A. operates from 2629 McCormick Dr. #102, Clearwater, FL 33759, serving elder law clients throughout Florida. Attorney Michael T. Heider brings more than 15 years of experience to assist with all aspects of elder law, including estate plans, guardianships, conservatorships, Medicaid planning, nursing home issues, asset protection, long-term care planning, and elder abuse and neglect cases. As a licensed certified public accountant (CPA), he offers extensive insight into finance law, taxes, asset protection, and financial planning—particularly valuable for long-term asset protection strategies. The firm specializes in Medicaid eligibility planning, helping clients navigate the critical Medicaid lookback period which examines asset transfers or sales within 60 months of application. Proper planning helps clients qualify for benefits without jeopardizing eligibility or incurring penalties. Recognizing that assisted living facilities and nursing homes are immensely expensive, the firm implements proactive measures to preserve assets while ensuring high-quality long-term care through estate planning tools, long-term care insurance, trusts, and other strategies. For a free, no-risk initial consultation about elder law concerns, contact Michael T. Heider, P.A. at 727-235-6005.
Cornetet, Meyer, Rush and Spillane’s elder law attorneys serve Cincinnati, Ohio from their Tri-county, Hyde Park, and Western Hills locations, specializing in Medicaid planning and long-term care issues. The firm provides critical guidance on nursing home expenses and asset protection, helping families avoid the dreaded “spend down” where assets must be liquidated to qualify for Medicaid. Their attorneys conduct thorough analyses to determine which assets are exempt from Medicaid calculations, often preserving family homes, cars, personal property, burial plots, and irrevocable funeral arrangements. The practice addresses the complex “snapshot date” calculations crucial for married couples when one spouse enters a nursing facility. CMRS assists clients in navigating the community spouse resource allowance rules, which vary annually, helping protect spousal assets during the transition to long-term care. The firm also advises on appropriate spend-down expenditures, including new vehicles, home improvements, nursing home necessities, and establishing pooled payback trusts. For families worried about losing lifetime savings to healthcare costs, their experienced elder law attorneys provide strategic guidance on asset protection while maintaining Medicaid eligibility.
Graber & Johnson Law Group, LLC serves clients throughout Northwest, Southwest, and South Central Kansas from multiple offices including Overland Park, Manhattan, Elkhart, Hugoton, Hutchinson, Garden City, and Norton. The firm specializes in Medicaid crisis planning to help families facing sudden nursing home placement navigate the complex eligibility requirements and asset protection strategies. Their elder law attorneys understand the staggering costs of long-term care—averaging $105,850 annually for a private nursing home room nationally with a 3.57% annual increase since 2019—and help clients qualify for Medicaid without depleting life savings. The firm guides clients through complicated state-specific Medicaid rules, including resource allowance limits, spousal protection regulations, and transfer penalty pitfalls. Understanding that violating transfer rules could disqualify applicants from receiving benefits for months or years, their attorneys provide comprehensive counsel on legally protecting the maximum assets allowed by law. Graber & Johnson’s team approach ensures personalized attention during uncertain times, offering clients peace of mind throughout the Medicaid application and qualification process. Contact their Overland Park office at 14400 Metcalf Ave for a consultation.
Walker Heye, PLLC serves clients from 1333 Columbia Park Trail, Suite 220, Richland, WA 99352, providing specialized elder law and guardianship services. Led by attorney Bret Uhrich, their practice focuses on representing elderly individuals, those with special needs, and vulnerable adults throughout the Tri-Cities area. The firm approaches guardianship with careful consideration, always striving to find alternatives since guardianship impacts fundamental rights including marriage, voting, driving, contracting, property transactions, and personal associations. They recognize that guardianship becomes necessary in certain situations, such as for profoundly disabled adult children unable to appoint attorneys-in-fact, individuals posing dangers to themselves or others, those with dementia who’ve lost capacity, or individuals vulnerable to abuse or exploitation. Their elder law services encompass guardianship reporting and accounting, alternatives to guardianship, powers of attorney, special needs trusts, long-term care asset protection, nursing home rights, and addressing abuse and exploitation of vulnerable adults. For assistance navigating these sensitive legal matters, contact Walker Heye at 509-735-4444 for a consultation focused on protecting elderly and vulnerable clients.
Herr, Potts and Potts, with offices at 200 Eagle Road, Suite 106, Wayne, PA 19087 and 138 W Gay Street, West Chester, PA 19380, provides elder care, estate planning, and trust administration across southeastern Pennsylvania. As the population ages, their experienced attorneys offer personalized solutions to help preserve assets and secure legacies. Their elder law services encompass estate planning, federal benefits, guardianships, and special needs planning, focusing on protecting seniors against challenges like medical expenses and long-term care. The firm clarifies client relationships, prioritizing transparency with written agreements when adult children bring elderly parents for consultation. They assist with guardianship arrangements when seniors cannot manage finances or health needs, help maximize federal benefits like Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid, and provide comprehensive estate planning including powers of attorney, living trusts, and asset protection strategies. Their attorneys have successfully created living trusts to prevent financial exploitation, drafted powers of attorney to avoid costly guardianship proceedings, established asset protection plans for long-term care, and filed Federal Estate Tax Returns to minimize taxes. For consultations, call (610) 254-0114.
