Elder and special needs law has become more challenging as the basic societal supports on which our aged and disabled clients thrive can no longer be taken as a given. Foundational programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and disability services are being re-examined, re-designed and often reduced. Social Security has been re-characterized from a contributory social insurance program to an entitlement that can be altered and changed. Thus, the rules are changing in the middle of the game and our clients are caught in the mix.

The elder law and special needs attorney’s role as advocate and advisor is becoming even more crucial. We are asked by our clients to maximize their planning options, create defensive strategies, and help them understand the impact of these changes on them, their finances and their family. The elder law and special needs attorney has become the lawyer for the later years, which requires we have the knowledge to cover life from pre-retirement to death. The elder’s expansive life cycle requires we know long-term care and estate planning, but also about health, housing, financial security, community resources, treatment of Alzheimer’s and other chronic diseases, government benefits beyond Medicare and Medicaid, real estate, retirement savings and tax implications. The list continues to grow as the elders and the families we serve are becoming more diverse. This is what makes the practice interesting and exciting, and each day presents a new issue and a new challenge.