Legal Considerations for Seniors in Las Vegas, Southern Highlands, and Nearby Areas

Recommendations from experts in Las Vegas and Southern Highlands, NV

Paperwork isn't necessarily fun, but it is necessary. If your aging loved one is receiving care at home or other care services, it’s essential to get their legal affairs in order. The best time to ensure that their documents and finances are in order is right now. At Comfort Keepers, we know that it’s easy not to prioritize financial and legal record-keeping, but it’s essential to ensure the safety and well-being of your loved ones. We’ve gathered our best tips from the experts at Comfort Keepers for you and your family to consider.

Make a plan

Every goal starts with a plan. Often, we see our clients create a comprehensive care plan that even incorporates changes in physical, mental, or emotional health. But when it comes to planning for a financial and legal future, clients may struggle to prepare. When your family chooses care at home, a nursing home, or an assisted living facility anywhere in Las Vegas and the surrounding area, it’s time to make a plan for your loved one’s financial and legal future, too.

Organize your documents

Gather all your paperwork in one central location, because the first step to identifying which documents are still needed or decisions you’ll need to make is knowing what has already been accomplished. We recommend creating a central hub for your aging loved one’s records, such as a filing cabinet or accordion file that remains in one place. Documents you should gather include identity documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, or passport), financial documents (checking, savings, investment, and other financial accounts), and real estate documents (mortgages or leases, insurance policies, etc.).

Care at Home Involves Making a Will

Your loved one should decide on their own will. If your loved ones do not already have a will, you should take this opportunity to help them create one and make those decisions. Your loved one will need to pick which document to use and what’s in it. This is a discussion you’ll want to have as early as possible so that your family can also understand your aging loved one's wishes while you provide senior care at home.

Your loved one might choose an advance health care directive, which helps a senior specify the kind of care services or medical interventions that should be provided if they become seriously ill, incapacitated, or unable to communicate. These directives can specify particular facilities or care providers your aging loved one prefers, or indicate that senior care at home is their preferred mode of care.

Your loved one should consider whether they prefer a living will or a health care power of attorney. These two documents operate differently, but both can specify who can make decisions on behalf of your loved one and the scope of those decisions. Both become effective when your loved one can no longer communicate or advocate for themselves.

Learn More About Our Services in Las Vegas and Southern Highlands, NV

Here are some helpful resources to help you understand legal matters related to home care.

• The American Bar Association’s (ABA) Commission on Law and Aging
• The ABA’s Guide to Wills and Estates
• Find a Lawyer tool on the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys’ website
• The Law Issues for Consumers section of the ABA's website

Always consult a lawyer regarding your family’s specific needs and your senior care at home. Of course, there are many excellent lawyers throughout Las Vegas, NV, and Southern Highlands, NV.