When individuals enter nursing facilities, they often find their life savings wiped clean to pay for the care. According to Ewing-based attorney Kathleen Scott Chasar, a 1996 graduate of Widener University School of Law, this does not necessarily have to be the case. She focuses much of her career on helping senior citizens secure their finances for the future.
While Chasar handles a variety of legal issues, including family law and real estate closings, her favorite and most popular services are in the area of elder law.
“I like dealing with the elderly people,” she said. “They’re very appreciative when I help them out. It’s a win-win situation for both of us.”
Chasar finds it rewarding to help her clients protect their assets in the event that they must enter a nursing facility.
“If you have to go into a nursing home, they take all your money,” Chasar explained, noting that individuals on Medicaid are allotted only $35 a month for clothing, haircuts, and other essentials.
“You can protect that money, and you can leave it to your children or just leave it in a bank account and if you need it, it’s there,” Chasar said. “There’s a lot of things that can be done, but you have to do it ahead of time. You can’t wait until two days before you’re going to enter the nursing home.”
She stressed that financial matters must be settled several years prior to entering a nursing facility, so senior citizens should seek legal advice sooner rather than later.
According to Chasar, every individual should obtain three important documents: a last will and testament, a power of attorney, and a living will or healthcare directive. These three documents could save a great deal of money in the event that an individual unexpectedly passes away or becomes mentally incapacitated.
“Say you don’t have a power of attorney and your mother has to go into a nursing home and she’s on the beginning stages of dementia. At that point, you have to petition the court to be appointed a guardian,” Chasar said, explaining that she charges only $225 for the power of attorney document, but if the courts must appoint a guardian, the legal fees will cost about $3,000.
“So it’s cost effective to get it done ahead of time,” she said. “It’s just a simple document that once it’s signed, it’s legal and you don’t have to worry about anything.”
Chasar has many clients in their 80s and 90s; her oldest is 104 years old. She often travels to nursing facilities or to the homes of her immobile clients who are in need of legal services.
“They’re always hugging me. They’ll bake cookies and things like that,” Chasar said.
Last year, Chasar held a seminar at the Ewing Township Senior & Community Center where she explained to senior citizens how to prepare for their financial futures. She hopes to hold a similar seminar this fall. Chasar welcomes phone calls from individuals interested in attending the seminar or from anyone who would like to learn how to protect assets for the future.
Kathleen Scott Chasar, Esquire, PA is located at 903 Parkway Ave. in Ewing. Phone: (609) 882-2200.
Lawyer Kathleen Scott Chasar specializes in elder law. (Staff photo by Carolyn Steber.)
