The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services is an important resource for Seniors. It serves as the home to most of the state’s human services and health care programs, including Medicaid, the Department for Community Based Services and the Department for Public Health. The Cabinet is one of the largest agencies in the state of Kentucky, with nearly 8,000 full and part-time employees.
Some of the Services Provided for Seniors by the Cabinet
- Adult Day Care
- Home Care
- Medicaid
- Kentucky Prescription Assistance Program
Mental Health Resources
The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services also provide Alzheimer’s Respite, a program of supervision and care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. This service provides temporary relief from caregiving duties.
Protection from abuse and fraud
The unfortunate reality is that adults are often abused, either physically or mentally by others. The abuse is not always intentional, but it does happen. If you or a loved one is experiencing such abuse, there are resources available to help you. Another resource is the Division of Fraud, Waste and Abuse/Identification and Prevention which is responsible for planning, developing, and directing agency efforts to identify and prevent fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicaid program, and all other welfare programs administered by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
Within Jefferson County, other important resources include:
- Crimes Against Seniors Squad 502-574-2278
- Elderserve Emergency Crisis Response Team 502-587-8673
- Adult Protective Services 502-595-4803
Various other forms of assistance
Medical Transportation services are provided for non-emergency transportation. Personal Care Attendant services are available for individuals 18 and older with functional loss of two or more limbs and who have the ability to hire and supervise an attendant. Also, individuals age 55 and older who are below 125 percent of the federal poverty level and who need training, subsidized employment and help with job placement, can receive Senior Employment services.
Support Group (KinCare) is available for grandparents raising their grandchildren
Believe it or not, but there are more than 65,000 children in Kentucky living with their grandparents. KinCare helps grandparents and other relative caregivers find valuable resources that will support them in the caregiver role. KinCare also helps caregivers identify needs that may be neglected because some services are not being provided.
What Does a Louisville Elder Law Attorney Do?
Attorneys can specialize just as physicians do. In fact, there are so many different types of attorneys specializing in different legal fields that some clients are not even aware of the availability of elder law experts. A Louisville elder law attorney mainly handles legal matters relating to seniors or the aging community. This can include estate planning, retirement, nursing home and Medicaid issues.
A Louisville elder law attorney has special training and experience
Elder law attorneys receive specific training and knowledge in the relevant legal issues that seniors regularly face, which makes them better able to understand and meet the needs of their elder clients and their families. Elder law attorneys are also proficient at anticipating potential problems facing seniors. Basically, the practice of elder law requires legal advocacy, education, counseling and future planning.
Familiarity with the legal issues facing seniors today
One talent an elder law attorney should have is creating and maintaining a working knowledge of the common issues facing seniors in our society. With that comes the ability to wade through the common misconceptions regarding aging and competency.
An elder law attorney needs to know how to identify the actual challenges seniors face, whether physical or mental, and balance those challenges with the need for freedom and autonomy. It is important for these attorneys to stay current on the laws that may affect our aging population. It is equally important to maintain connections with the various other professionals who routinely provide services to seniors. The practice of elder law goes beyond drafting legal documents.
Medicaid planning is essential
Medicaid is a government insurance program for persons of all ages whose income and resources render the person eligible for governmental assistance.
Medicaid is jointly funded by the state and federal governments and managed by the states, which each state currently having broad leeway to determine who is eligible for its implementation of the program. Medicaid is a means-tested, needs-based, social protection program. Edibility is determined largely by income. (“Means tested” is a determination of whether an individual or family is eligible for government assistance, based upon whether the individual or family possesses the means – or resources – to do without that help.)
When a married couple is considering Medicaid planning it is important to know which assets will be excluded from Medicaid’s scrutiny. Part of the Medicaid application process requires you to present a picture of all assets in order to determine if you are, in fact, eligible for Medicaid benefits. This review of assets is known as a Resource Assessment. Questions concerning the Medicaid application process and asset preservation strategies are just a few of the issues an Elder Law attorney can help to create an effective estate plan.
If you have questions regarding an elder law, or any other estate planning matters, contact Cochrangersh Law Offices, P.S.C. for a complementary consultation either online or by calling us at (502) 423-7023.
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