Growing older in Spokane Valley allows you to create memories to cherish, but aging also brings challenging decisions to make. As you watch the seasons change, planning for your future care becomes essential. Elder law encompasses the legal strategies that protect your assets, preserve your independence, and ensure you receive the care you deserve as you age.
At ELG Estate Planning, we have spent nearly two decades helping Spokane Valley families face these challenges with confidence. Our team understands elder law from both professional and personal perspectives—many of us have walked this path with our own aging parents. We bring this combination of legal experience and empathy to every family we serve. Call us today or contact us online for a confidential consultation with an elder law attorney serving Spokane Valley.
Elder law is an area of legal practice that addresses the needs and challenges facing older adults and their families. This field combines elements of estate planning, healthcare law, public benefits, and asset protection to create comprehensive strategies for aging with dignity and security.
Unlike traditional estate planning—which focuses primarily on what happens after death—elder law concentrates on protecting you during your lifetime. It addresses immediate concerns like qualifying for benefits, paying for care, and protecting assets from the overwhelming costs of long-term care facilities. Elder law also helps families make difficult decisions about guardianship, healthcare choices, and living arrangements.
Seven out of ten adults who live past age 65 will need some form of long-term care. Without proper planning, the cost of this care can devastate a lifetime of savings. For Spokane Valley residents, elder law becomes particularly important given the rising costs of care in Eastern Washington. A private room in a local nursing home can cost over $140,000 per year. Without proper planning, paying for this care often means selling the family home, depleting retirement savings, or burdening adult children with impossible financial obligations. Elder law strategies help you avoid these devastating outcomes while maintaining your quality of life.
Spokane Valley offers various levels of care that suit a wide range of needs and preferences. Each option comes with different costs, as well as certain considerations for your elder law planning.
The type of care you need will determine your planning strategy. Each option has different qualification requirements for Medicaid coverage and different implications for asset protection. At ELG Estate Planning, we help you understand these differences and create a plan that preserves your choices while protecting your estate.
Medicaid provides crucial coverage for long-term care, but qualifying for benefits requires careful planning. Many Spokane Valley families mistakenly believe they must spend down all their assets before Medicaid will help with care costs. This misconception often leads to unnecessary financial devastation.
Medicaid planning involves legal strategies to help you qualify for benefits while preserving assets for your spouse, your family, or your own future needs. The program has strict asset and income limits, but Washington State law provides several legitimate ways to protect resources while obtaining coverage.
One of Medicaid’s most important rules is the five-year lookback period. When you apply for long-term care benefits, Medicaid reviews all asset transfers from the previous five years. Gifts or transfers made to qualify for benefits can trigger penalty periods during which Medicaid will not pay for your care. This rule makes advance planning essential—waiting until you need care can severely limit your options.
Our Medicaid Asset Preservation Strategies® help you work within these rules to protect your estate. For example, we can:
These strategies can be effective, but they require thorough knowledge of both federal Medicaid regulations and Washington State law.
Sometimes, a crisis strikes before plans are in place. A sudden stroke, a fall resulting in serious injury, or a rapid cognitive decline can thrust families into situations where they have to make immediate decisions about care. When this happens, Medicaid crisis planning becomes essential.
Even in crisis situations, taking immediate action with an experienced elder law attorney can save hundreds of thousands of dollars while preserving your right to access high-quality care. At ELG Estate Planning, we have helped numerous Spokane Valley families facing urgent care needs protect their assets through strategic crisis planning.
The best time to begin elder law planning is before you need it. Waiting until health problems arise or care becomes necessary eliminates many protective strategies and forces difficult decisions during emotional times.
Starting early provides numerous advantages. You have time to implement five-year strategies that offer maximum asset protection. It gives you an opportunity to carefully evaluate care options and choose facilities that meet your preferences. You can also coordinate elder law planning with your broader estate plan to ensure comprehensive protection. Most importantly, you maintain control over these decisions rather than leaving them to chance or court intervention.
At ELG Estate Planning, we understand that confronting aging and mortality feels uncomfortable. Our compassionate team makes this process as stress-free as possible while helping you understand every option available. Contact our office today for your confidential consultation with an elder law attorney who serves Spokane Valley. Let us help you protect what you have worked a lifetime to build while ensuring you receive the quality care you deserve.
