I’m a Baby Boomer nearing what Social Security calls the “full retirement age.” I’ve shared a bit of my past below, which explains the motivation and purpose of Keystone Elder Law. My wife and I presently feel “called” to provide a solid foundation for Keystone Elder Law PC to outlive us as our future legacy to serve our community’s long-term care needs.
We were confused and frustrated by a wide variety of unbelievably challenging issues over an eight year period when all four of our parents suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia at the end of their lives. Dealing with the conflicting regulations and apparent motivations of hospitals, rehab facilities, skilled nursing homes, dementia facilities, continuing care retirement communities, hospices, and individual medical professionals was a remarkably chaotic experience. It nearly drove us crazy!
We had no guide or advisor to give us comprehensive advice to make us feel confident that we weren’t overlooking an opportunity to comfort or assist our parents. One attorney wrote us a helpful letter to explain the Medicaid process, but did not do the paperwork for us. We were never advised that our fathers’ World War II service opened the door to receive more than $20,000 per year in a special pension from the Veterans Administration. No one explained how we could use a Medicaid-compliant annuity to save assets for the spouse who still lived in the community. No one helped us to understand or coordinate facility or care options. No one came to the facility to help us with advocacy.
Frustration remained, even after the passing of our parents. I concluded that, although we had met many really fine and kind individuals along our parents’ “journeys,” either the elder care system was badly broken or had not yet been fully invented. I began seeking “a better way” to serve our community.