Littman Krooks

The debate about health care reform, especially as it pertains to end-of-life issues, became increasingly contentious in “town hall” meetings across America, especially a few months ago. Some people claim that elder Americans were being herded into euthanasia and assisted suicide via rationing of medical treatment.

In fact, the Obama Administration’s health care reform initiative, although controversial, seemed intended to encourage potentially productive doctor-patient conversations concerning end-of-life issues that may be relevant to most anyone. In fact, a Living Will is good for individuals. It enables people to make essential choices about how they choose to end their days. Most attorneys already discuss these issues with their clients when preparing estate plans. Doctors often have these discussions now with their patients. The proposed health care reform initiative, depending upon what eventually emerges as law, should enable the doctor to be paid for spending the time to help patients think through these important decisions.

Proactive Elder Law attorneys continue to encourage their clients to create Living Wills and Advance Health Care Directives before it’s too late. Under the proposed legislation, doctors and their patients will now be encouraged to have this conversation, as well.

To learn more about New York Elder Law, NY Elder Law, New York Elder Care, NY Elder Care, or New York Estate Planning visit http://www.elderlawnewyork.com.

It happens as much through e-mail as it does through postal mail or telemarketing calls these days. You receive an offer you can’t refuse promising riches or else alleging that you’ve already won. If it seems too good to be true, it usually is.

You’re checking your email. A message arrives from someone you don’t know. He is begging for your help. The situation might seem contrived or even preposterous, but you are tempted. You can’t help reading it. If you help this person, providing information about yourself or your finances, and perhaps sending some money, the writer promises that you will be rewarded many times over. You fall for it. Perhaps you succumb more than once.

Sometimes a postal mail, email, or telemarketing call identifies you as a lottery or contest winner. It doesn’t matter that you never entered; this fact is clouded by the fact you’ve won. Why would someone tell you that you’ve won something when you haven’t?

Because, as is too often the case, you are being scammed.

Seniors are often unsophisticated Internet users and may also be vulnerable to “snail mail” cheats. They are targeted by scam artists eager to separate them from their money. Duped elders have lost assets acquired over a lifetime – sometimes tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.

With the Internet’s global reach, countries such as Nigeria and Sierra Leone have emerged as “scam industry centers.” Elderly victims tend to fit a profile. They often live alone, may have recently lost a loved one, or may be experiencing the early signs of diminished capacity. Besides routine crime prevention steps that can be taken to protect a loved one, an attorney focusing their practice in Elder Law can establish some protection from con artists by building effective language into trusts and estate plans. In addition, a trusted family member can be given power of attorney over bank accounts and financial matters. But being scammed can be painful for young and old alike.

To learn more about New York Elder Law, NY Elder Law, New York Elder Care, NY Elder Care, or New York Estate Planning visit http://www.elderlawnewyork.com.