Sykes Elder Law Blog | Elder Care Information & Resources

Certified as an elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation under authorization of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Certified as an elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation under authorization of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Medicaid Estate Recovery in PA: How It Works

Medicaid Estate Recovery in PA: How It Works

“Estate recovery” is Pennsylvania’s program for recovering Medicaid costs from the estates of recipients who have died. For example, if Aunt Martha spent a year in a nursing home receiving Medicaid and then died owning a house worth $200,000, the estate recovery...
What is Power of Attorney (and Why Have One)?

What is Power of Attorney (and Why Have One)?

If you need some clarity on what exactly a “durable power of attorney” is, and why it’s important to have one, watch the short video below. Here I give you my thoughts on what can happen if you don’t have power of attorney, and why it makes...
Medicaid planning for single/widowed in nursing home

Medicaid planning for single/widowed in nursing home

Readers of our blog have heard of the many ways assets can be protected for the spouse of a nursing home resident when applying for Medicaid benefits. What about someone who is widowed or never married? Without a spouse to give assets to under the spousal protection...
Who has capacity to make a will?

Who has capacity to make a will?

Fundamental to the validity of any last will and testament is that the testator (person whose will it is, and who is signing the documents) had capacity at the time of execution. By statute, a testator in Pennsylvania must be “of sound mind” to make a will. (20 Pa....
Asset protection: saving your house with a trust

Asset protection: saving your house with a trust

For many middle class seniors, the house is one of their major assets – sometimes the most valuable asset. I’m often asked, “How do I save my house from being lost to nursing home costs?” The answer in many situations is through the use of an asset protection trust...