What is Estate Planning?
Estate planning is the process that involves the disposition of property and other assets in the event of death. The term “estate planning” includes not only wills and trusts but also gifts, life insurance, annuities, and other financial instruments. An estate plan may also include powers of attorney for healthcare and financial matters.
The laws governing estate planning vary from state to state. While some states have very similar laws governing estate planning, others differ in significant ways. Therefore, it is generally advisable for someone seeking legal counsel for an estate plan to seek out a lawyer who specializes in such matters and is licensed to practice law in the appropriate state or multiple states.
While most people are careful to ensure that their property is distributed according to their wishes after their death through the use of a will, trust, or other legal instruments, many do not consider what will happen if they become incapacitated while still alive. Estate planning includes consideration of this possibility through the use of power of attorney for healthcare and financial matters as well as the durable power of attorney, healthcare directives, and living wills. In addition to making sure that one’s wishes are carried out at all times, estate planning can also reduce or eliminate taxes due at death and provide for family needs after death by creating trusts.
It is a complicated process that involves many different types of documents, each serving a specific purpose. A revocable trust is one such legal instrument designed to protect assets from taxation while providing for their distribution according to the testator’s wishes after death.
At Faithful Home Care Solutions – Aging Gracefully – End of Life Planning, we provide Estate
Planning services such as:
- Last Wills and Testament
- Healthcare Directive or Living Will
- Power of Attorney or Durable Power of Attorney
- Long-Term Care Riders & Insurance
- Final Expense Insurance
A comprehensive end-of-life plan enables individuals to make decisions about their health and financial wellbeing in the final stages of life when they are properly able to do so.
End-of-life planning consists of four components:
- Creating a living will or advance healthcare directive
- Designating an individual with a durable power of attorney for health care & finances
- Providing a document for the distribution of assets
- Choosing the type and place of care you prefer
This is designed to:
- Ensure the financial security of you and your family during and after your lifetime.
- Provide for your children’s education, health care, or other needs.
- Avoid probate, reduce estate taxes, and limit income taxes.
- Maintain privacy and ensure that your assets are distributed in accordance with your wishes.
- Avoid family conflicts & disagreements.
Don’t procrastinate when it comes to estate planning. Don’t think that you are too young or too young at heart to face up to the inevitable. It’s a difficult topic, but a necessary one as well. Don’t be afraid to seek counsel, help, or suggestions regarding your will, trust, living will, medical power of attorney, and funeral wishes. Preparation is key! Believe it or not, this doesn’t require a lot of money or extreme wealth. Estate Planning is for everyone!
Contact us today for more details at
O: 215-233-6107 | C: 267-806-0209
E: OfficeSupport@faithfulhomecare.com
Office of the Long-term Living Waiver Eligibility Assistance
If you are found eligible for the OLTL Waiver Program, assistance will be available to help you with your daily activities and health care needs. But for those who are unfamiliar with the OLTL, or Office of Long-term Living, you may be asking, what is this office and its functions? and why is it critical to be aware of such?
Here’s what you need to know:
- The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) administers Medicaid programs that provide long-term services to the elderly and physically disabled residents of Pennsylvania.
- Both financial and functional requirements must be met for eligibility.
- The continuum of care includes services provided in patients’ homes, as well as institutional care provided in nursing homes.
The Department of Human Services (formerly the Department of Public Welfare) was required to establish attendant care services for eligible individuals under Act 150.
To be eligible, you must:
- Be a Pennsylvania resident. Pennsylvania residents are either United States citizens or immigrants lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
- Residents must be 18 to 59 years old.
- A person should have the ability to direct his or her own care.
- Participate in the Medicaid Attendant Care Waiver application process and be ineligible for attendant care services.
- Be mentally alert and capable of selecting, supervising, and, if necessary, terminating a PAS employee. You should also be capable of managing your own financial and legal affairs.
- Experiencing any physical impairment that is medically determinable and expected to last at least 12 months.
- Due to the physical impairment, the individual requires assistance with activities of daily living, self-care, and mobility, including, but not limited to those functions included in the definition of PAS or “personal assistance services”.
- Based on an assessment, require basic services.
You can choose from the following services:
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Personal Assistance Services
PAS has two types of services:
- Basic PAS Services and,
- Ancillary PAS Services
Allows an eligible person to remain at home and in the community rather than in an institution and participate in activities of daily living, self-care, and mobility.
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Personal Emergency Response System (PERS)
Individuals who are eligible for PERS services must meet the following criteria:
- They must live alone;
- Spend significant periods of time alone, considering their health status, disability, risk factors, support needs, and other factors.
- Live with someone who may not be able to access a telephone quickly when an emergency occurs;
- Require in-person monitoring and assistance on a routine basis. This service includes installation, repairs, monitoring, and maintenance.
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Service Coordination
Assists participants in identifying, coordinating, and obtaining the medical, social, housing, educational, and other services that support their needs. For more details, you may check Long-Term Living Home and Community-Based Services Regulations, Title 55 Pa. Code Chapter 52, § 52.26 and 27.
You can find out if you are eligible for the OLTL Waiver Program under the PA WAIVER PROGRAM by consulting with our team of qualified and professional healthcare experts. Send us an EMAIL or CALL us TODAY at 215-233-6107.
Aging Gracefully Customized Funeral Programs
Funeral Programs and Obituaries: What Are They?
Funeral Programs are also known as Memorial Cards, Memorial Brochures, Memorial Announcements, and Memorial Announcement Cards.
Funerals are always sad affairs as they mark the end of someone’s life. The most significant part of any funeral is the obituary or funeral service program. It is a small booklet given to the attendees and relatives of the deceased. It contains all the information about the person who passed away and their family members. Also included are prayers and scriptures that are read during the funeral or memorial service. It gives people an opportunity to share their grief and express their love for their departed loved ones in public.
With FHCS Customized Funeral Programs or Obituaries, you can choose the language, color, and size that best suits your needs. They are available in various designs and themes. You can also choose whether you want them printed on paper or card stock paper, which will make them more durable than just plain paper cards.
You can even add pictures of your loved one and other relevant information such as birthdate, birthplace, hobbies, interests, and accomplishments during their lifetime. It will also contain information about where they were born, went to school, and worked during their lifetime, which will make them more personalized and unique.
Funeral programs are a beautiful way to commemorate the life of a loved one. It’s also a great way to share photos and memories with those who couldn’t attend the service. They are usually available in booklet form or folded card stock.
The funeral program can be used as part of a memorial display at the funeral service or as an insert in your loved one’s guest book. If you choose not to use them as part of the memorial display, they make a lovely keepsake that can be saved by family members and placed in scrapbooks or photo albums so they can remember what they were like when they were alive.
Many people choose to order customized funeral programs because they want something that reflects their style or that reflects the personality of their loved ones.
You also have many options in choosing what content goes into your funeral program. You can include poems, quotes, or songs that were special or favorites of theirs. Even their favorite recipes! The possibilities are endless! And each one will help tell their unique story.
We print all of our programs on high-quality paper so they will stand up to years of use without fading or tearing. The best part is that funeral programs are very affordable—and they’re worth every penny!
There are a lot of decisions to make when dealing with the death of someone close to you, however, one way to make that easier is to know what options are available to you. Knowing that you can have customized funeral programs/obituaries will leave you feeling more prepared and happier in times of grief.
Let us help you to make it easy to remember your loved one. CALL US TODAY!
Long-term care insurance
Long-term care insurance is a type of insurance that covers the cost of long-term or chronic medical care, generally for patients with chronic medical conditions who require assistance with activities of daily living or because of their older age. This is different from health insurance as it provides comprehensive coverage for long-term care services. While health insurance only covers a portion of the expense incurred by a covered individual’s medical bills.
At FHCS Aging Gracefully, long-term care insurance will reimburse policyholders a daily amount (up to a pre-selected limit) for services to assist them with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, grooming, going to the restroom, moving around the house, and cooking. Additionally, it provides housekeeping services, meals on wheels, transportation, and home modifications like grab bars and ramps.
The cost of your long-term care policy will be determined by:
- The age of the policyholder at the time of purchase
- The maximum amount that a policy will pay per day
- The maximum number of days (years) that a policy will pay
- The maximum amount per day times the number of days determines the lifetime maximum amount that the policy will pay.
Here are some reasons why it makes sense to consider long-term care insurance:
- Helps pay for the cost of caring for you if you are unable to provide basic personal needs like dressing, bathing, eating, and toileting.
- Helps pay for non-medical expenses incurred during your medical treatment, such as transportation to and from appointments, housekeeping, and meals.
- Helps pay for expenses associated with traveling to see a doctor or specialist outside your home.
There is a lot of misinformation about long-term care insurance and how it works. You may have heard that it’s too expensive and not worth the cost. Or you may have heard that it’s a good idea, but you’re too young to be concerned about it.
Long-term care insurance can help ease some of the financial burden associated with extended care needs and provide peace of mind knowing that your family won’t have to worry about how they’ll pay for long-term care services when they’re needed most.
Other insurance available are:
- Final Expense Insurance – Also known as burial insurance, this type of life insurance is designed to pay for outstanding bills and funeral costs after the passing of a loved one.
- Funeral costs
- Medical expenses related to the death
- Mortgage payments (mortgage protection)
- Rent payments (rent protection)
- Pre-Paid Funeral Plan Assistance can be used to pay for final medical care, burials, and other funeral expenses.
Final expense insurance can help with unexpected expenses that may arise after your loved one dies. It can provide assistance with the following:
Funerals can be expensive. They can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and that’s not even counting the cost of burial plots and headstones. Final expense insurance can help you cover those costs after a loved one dies so that you can focus on grieving and making arrangements instead of worrying about finances.
The process of planning the funeral can be overwhelming. No matter how much you have saved up for your final expenses and no matter what type of insurance policy you have in place, there are still many expenses that must be covered after a loved one passes away. A pre-paid funeral plan can help cover some of these costs so that you don’t have to worry about them after losing someone close to you.
This can be done in several ways:
- By paying for the funeral in advance.
- By paying for a portion of the funeral in advance.
- By paying for a portion of the services at a later date or in installments over time.
- By providing funds to help cover costs related to final medical expenses and/or burial-related expenses.
Options like these are not suitable for every individual and will have different requirements based on your situation. Get in touch today to find out which plan is best for you.
It is as easy as 1,2,3.
Benefits of Estate Planning
Are you ready for the unexpected? If you were to pass away tomorrow, would your family be able to pay the bills and care for themselves? Do you have a will? How about a Living Trust ? Do you even know what Living Trust is? If you do not know these things, it may be time for some estate planning.
Why do you need an estate plan?
Many people postpone estate planning until it is too late, leaving their loved ones with difficult decisions about how to distribute assets after death. Without a plan, the law will decide what happens to the property upon the owner’s death and who would care for minor children if both parents died simultaneously. A well-crafted estate plan ensures family members receive what they want and need while preventing costly probate court proceedings after death.
The purpose of estate planning is simple: To ensure that your wishes are carried out after death, protect your assets and leave something behind for those you love. It also helps keep taxes down.
Here are some of the benefits of estate planning:
- Avoid probate court costs and delays by having a properly drafted will or trust.
- Avoid court battles over who gets what by clearly detailing your wishes in a will or trust.
- Avoid paying more taxes than necessary by distributing assets according to your wishes and not necessarily as dictated by state law (although there are some exceptions).
- Protects your family from creditors should they need to file bankruptcy after you pass away (for example, if their debts exceed their assets).
A lot of people do not understand that estate planning is not about leaving a large sum of money to their children, giving their pets to their partner, or deciding where they want to be buried. It’s about protecting yourself and your family, ensuring they would be taken care of in the event of your death, and planning for the future… regardless of how far away that day may seem. If you are one of those individuals who has been delaying this significant step, please remember that there’s nothing wrong with consulting a professional who can help you choose the right estate planning options for your specific needs. Do it soon so it won’t be too late.
We provide estate planning services ranging from the creation of wills, trusts, and other estate planning documents for individuals and businesses. In providing these services, we are able to advise you on all aspects of your financial affairs, including the creation of powers of attorney, health care proxies, and other advance directives that allow you to appoint an agent(s) to manage your financial affairs should you become incapacitated or unable to do so.
If you have specific questions about your personal or business estate planning needs, please feel free to contact us and we will be glad to answer your questions. We are here to help and ease your burdens.
Contact us at
O: 215-233-6107
E: OfficeSupport@faithfulhomecare.com
Last Will and Testament
Last Wills and Testaments are the most common type of estate planning. They are a way to plan for the future and ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes. It is a legal document that allows you to specify who will inherit your property when you die. It also states how you want your assets distributed and any additional instructions you wish to be included in your estate plan, such as burial arrangements.
If you don’t have a Last Will, state law determines how your property is distributed upon death. If there’s no Will in place, the intestate succession laws determine who gets what. This may not be what you want, so it’s critical to have a valid last will prepared by an experienced Estate Planning attorney in advance.
What does a Last Will & testament do?
- Last Wills & Testaments give you control over how your assets are distributed after death, which can prevent future problems or disputes among family members. It lets you choose who receives what possessions, including real estate or personal property such as car, jewelry, or furniture. You can also decide who should care for minor children if both parents die together in an accident — or even designate guardians for adult children who need help taking care of themselves.
- Even though these documents seem straightforward, there are some important things to keep in mind when creating them. You should make sure that your Will is accurate, complete, and up-to-date with any changes in your life — such as a marriage or divorce — because it can be difficult to change a legal document once it’s signed.
- The purpose of a Will is to transfer property after death. A Will also name an executor and/or beneficiaries, who will be responsible for carrying out the terms of the Last Will.
The person who executes a Will is known as the testator or testatrix. The person who drafts a Will is known as an attorney-in-fact. Wills are often reviewed by attorneys before they are executed, but in many cases, it may be possible for even non-attorneys to execute a valid Will.
Executors are responsible for gathering all assets and liabilities, paying creditors, and distributing remaining assets to beneficiaries. It is also the Executor’s responsibility to file the deceased’s final tax return.
- The Last Will can also be used to set up trusts for minor children (and sometimes adult children) if you die before they reach the age of 18 or 21 depending on state law. This can help prevent guardianship battles between parents and other relatives who might want to assume control over a child’s finances instead of allowing them to use them for their needs.
- The Will can also be used as a way to disinherit someone you don’t want anything to do with. This can be accomplished simply by not including them in the Will or by stating “I disinherit anyone not named here.”
Last Wills and Testaments are a crucial component of Estate Planning. However, utilizing these documents to create a valid and legal estate plan can be a daunting task, depending upon the size and complexity of your estate. By carefully considering all your options, you can create an Estate Plan that protects your loved ones, as well as yourself.
Let’s make it easy for you! To learn more about Wills and Estate Planning, contact us today for more details at:
O: 215-233-6107
E: OfficeSupport@faithfulhomecare.com
