Shana Siegel, Chair of the Norris McLaughlin Elder Care & Special Needs Law Practice Group, answers your questions in Peace of Mind, a video blog production series from the Elder Care & Special Needs Law Practice Group at Norris McLaughlin, P.A. This video addresses the urgency to protect your assets and how we can help.
Hi, I’m Shana Siegel. I’m the Chair of the Elder Care and Special Needs Group at Norris McLaughlin.
Is it too late to protect my assets if I need a facility now?
We can generally still work with families to protect assets even if they need care right away. We also work with them to find the right facility, review the admission agreement, apply for Medicaid and then advocate for their care needs once they’re in a facility.
About Our Elder Care & Special Needs Law Team
Shana Siegel, Attorney at Law, concentrates her practice in the area of elder law, focusing on representing seniors, individuals with special needs, and their families in connection with life care planning, public benefits, trust and estate planning, and long-term care advocacy. As one of the few Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELA) in northern New Jersey to be certified by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF), she has extensive experience in probate and estate administration, asset preservation, supplemental and special needs trusts, planning for disability, guardianship and estate litigation, resident rights, health care decision making, Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance appeals.
Shana was has been involved in health and long-term care issues for over 25 years. She is a past president of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), where she regularly met with legislators and government officials on behalf of the elder law bar and their clients. In 2015, Shana was invited to join NAELA’s prestigious Council of Advanced Practitioners (CAP). Additionally, she is a member of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, the New Jersey State Bar Elder & Disability Law Section, and the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association. Shana is active with the Long Term Living Association, several local chambers of commerce, and Jewish philanthropies.
Lori Kayne, Geriatric Social Worker, has been working as a Geriatric Social Worker in the healthcare field for over 20 years. At Norris McLaughlin, she works in collaboration with an Elder Care Attorney to develop a detailed Life Care Plan that addresses the health, safety, and care concerns of her clients as they impact their legal and financial planning. She and the attorney work with clients and their families for an extended period helping them navigate the healthcare maze and plan proactively.
Prior to joining the firm, Lori worked as a Geriatric Care Manager for Generations Counseling and Care Management and Senior Bridge where she conducted geriatric assessments, developed plans of care, and provided supportive counseling to assist clients with adjustments to illness and changes in lifestyle. She also has worked as a Discharge Planner in a variety of hospital and nursing home settings.
Laura Ocskay, Medicaid Specialist, specializes in preparing Medicaid applications and acts as a coordinator and liaison between the attorney, client, and caseworker with regard to the Medicaid application process to ensure compliance with Medicaid Rules & Regulations. Along with Shana, she identifies goals and objectives for each application and meets with clients to conduct and assess the spend-down plan for Medicaid eligibility. Laura collects, reviews, and analyzes, all financial data necessary for the application including bank statements, annuities, life insurance, and retirement plans. She also cross-references all financial transactions.
If you have any questions about this post or any other related matters, please feel free to email Shana at ssiegel@norris-law.com, Lori at lkayne@norris-law.com, or Laura at locskay@norris-law.com. For related topics and more information on the legal services we offer regarding elder care and special needs, visit www.norriselderlaw.com.